Daijiworld Media Network - Kasargod (SP)

Kasargod, Apr 24: A long distance train got stranded at Uppala railway station in the district on the night of Saturday April 22. The train could not move forward as it did not get the green signal which the station master is expected to give. The station master was found to have been absent from the station.

The Kochuveli-Indore express train reached Uppala station at around 10.40 pm on Saturday. But the train could not go forward as it did not get green signal. The train was stopped outside the station. As it was found that the station master was not present, people went searching for the station master who had gone home after his day duty hours, from the railway quarters. After the station master arrived, green signal was given and the train could move ahead.

The train had an unscheduled stop at Uppal station for about 30 minutes as a result. Railway safety division and railway protection force have begun an investigation against the on duty station master who had disappeared during the duty hours.

It is learnt that the night duty station master of Uppal, Pushparaj, who is said to be a liquor addict, had gone away in an inebriated state. Therefore, no one could give signal for the train to go ahead. Repeated calls made by the railway engine loco pilot to the station master failed to get any response. The pilot then got in contact with authorities at Mangaluru, who then contacted the  day duty station master and asked him to report for night duty to enable the train to move ahead. A detailed search conducted later found Pushpraj laying by the side of the railway tracks, it is learnt.