Vande Bharat Express halts in Kerala after drunk driver leaves autorickshaw on tracks

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A major accident was averted after the driver of a Vande Bharat Express spotted an autorickshaw stranded on the railway track near Akathumuri Halt station in the Varkala–Kadakkavur section on Tuesday night. Train No. 20633, running from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram, was nearing Akathumuri Halt around 10.10 pm when the loco pilot noticed the road vehicle encroaching onto the down line. He immediately applied the emergency brakes, bringing the high-speed train to a stop in time, according to news agency PTI. Railway officials said the autorickshaw was found abandoned, with neither the driver nor any passengers present at the spot. Teams from the Railway Protection Force, the engineering department and local police rushed to the location and removed the vehicle from the track. Television footage showed the autorickshaw lying damaged on the rails. After safety checks were completed, the Vande Bharat Express resumed its journey at 11.15 pm. No injuries were reported to passengers, members of the public or railway staff, and normal train services in the section were restored shortly thereafter. Despite the brief halt, the train reached Thiruvananthapuram Central at 11.50 pm. Railway authorities said the prompt response of the loco pilot prevented what could have been a serious accident. The Railway Protection Force later took the autorickshaw driver, identified as Sudhi, into custody on suspicion of being under the influence of alcohol.