All south-bound express trains, and Rameswaram-Villupuram passenger train were delayed by up to four hours after a man attacked a gatekeeper at M.M. Kovilur in the early hours of Saturday.
When gatekeeper Abbas Kutty lowered the gates to allow a train to pass, a man tried to pass through them. But he fell down after being hit by the gate. When Mr. Kutty rushed to help him, the man reportedly attacked him and fled. The gatekeeper was admitted to Dindigul Government Hospital. Condemning the attack, members of SRMU resorted to a flash strike, resulting in all gatekeepers stopping work.
All railway level-crossing gates between Manaparai and Dindigul were opened. The railway stations were alerted about the strike and caution notice was issued to loco pilots to approach level crossings at very low speed.
In some cases, loco pilots stopped the train near the level crossings, closed the gate before passing through it. As a sequel, all south-bound express trains especially, Kanyakumari, Pearl City, Ananthapuri, Nellai, Pothigai and Pandian Express trains were running behind schedule.
Worst affected was Rameswaram-Villupuram passenger as it was stopped at Dindigul railway station for more than four-and-a-half hours.
