Smoke halts Kanyakumari Express train near Chennai’s Nungambakkam

CHENNAI: Panic broke out on board No 12633 Kanyakumari Express train after smoke was spotted in coach S5, shortly after the train left Chennai Egmore on Tuesday evening.

Alert passengers raised an alarm, prompting an emergency halt at Nungambakkam.

Southern Railway officials said the smoke was likely caused by brake binding -- a common issue where the brakes don’t fully release and continue to press against the wheels. This creates intense friction, causing the area to overheat and release smoke while the train is moving.

The issue was rectified on site, and the train resumed its journey after a 15-minute delay.