Ticket Examiner Hailed for Averting Train Disaster Over Valapattanam River

Palakkad: A ticket examiner became a hero for passengers on a train that came to a halt over the Valapattanam River bridge after a passenger pulled the emergency chain. M.P. Ramesh (39), a native of Palakkad, is credited with averting a major accident through his timely intervention.

The incident occurred at 3:45 AM on Sunday. A passenger on the Thiruvananthapuram North – Mangaluru Onam Special (06042) train pulled the emergency chain. The passenger, who was in the S-One coach, intended to alight at Kannur. Realizing he had missed the Kannur station, he pulled the chain. By then, the train had already reached the Valapattanam bridge.

With the train stopped on the bridge, the pressure valve could not be reset to its original position, making it impossible to restart the train. The guard and loco pilot were unable to reach the spot quickly due to the circumstances. Ramesh then descended through the vestibule between the coaches, navigating in the dark with only the light from his mobile phone.

The loco pilot and guard eventually arrived with torches and provided the necessary instructions. Ramesh successfully reset the pressure valve. The train resumed its journey after an 8-minute delay. Prolonged stoppage on the bridge could have led to a dangerous situation. Ramesh’s actions in preventing this potential hazard have been praised by the Indian Railway Ticket Checking Staff Organization.

Railway authorities have initiated action against the passenger who pulled the emergency chain. M.P. Ramesh serves as a Traveling Ticket Inspector at the Mangaluru Sleeper Depot, under the Palakkad Railway Division.