Southern Railways terminates contractor’s service after Shoranur accident

The Southern Railways has terminated the services of the contractor contracted to clean railway lines after a tragic incident near Shoranur station on November 2 in which three people were killed and one is still missing.

“The action for termination of the contract has been initiated and a criminal case is also being filed against the contractor for failing to ensure safety of employees at the incoming trains,” a Railways press release said.

The contract for rag picking at Shoranur wharf and approaches was awarded to Munavvar of Malappuram. According to the railways, three persons were killed and one is still missing after the Thiruvananthapuram-bound Kerala Express hit the workers who were collecting waste from the railway at 3.05 pm on Saturday.

The Railways has announced an ex gratia of Rs 1 lakh for the families of the deceased workers, including two women from Tamil Nadu. “After completion of the work, a group of about ten workers, instead of using the road, took the railway bridge to cross to the other side to reach the station, without informing the railway officials and without the permission of the railway staff,” the report said. .

Because no railway work was planned on the bridge that day, there was no railway protection on the bridge. Unfortunately, four people were struck by a train, the release said.

Authorities said the workers took the bridge, where there is no speed restriction for crossing, and at the same time (train no. 12626) Kerala Express was also approaching the lower line.

“Unfortunately, at that time, three workers were run over and one worker jumped into the river,” the release said. Meanwhile, searches for the missing person in the Bharathapuzha river resumed on Sunday. The railway police have launched an investigation into the incident.