Chennai: Seven suburban EMU trains on their way from Tambaram to Beach were stranded for over 45 minutes around Guindy after a buffalo got run over between Guindy and Saidapet by the 6.35 pm Chennai Beach train.
“We were stuck on the bridge for about 50 minutes. Since three bogies of the train were over the bridge, people could not even get down.
Apart from this train, six more EMU trains towards Beach were stuck for over 55 minutes. The train that stopped at 7 pm has started moving at 7.55 pm,” said a commuter on the first train which ran over a buffalo and was stuck on the bridge over the river.
Commuters in the ladies and first class compartments started getting restless as the train was stranded on top of the stinking Adyar River after dusk while some people from the rear compartments got down and started walking to the Guindy station.
The movement of trains was unhindered on the other three tracks – two for Express trains and one towards Tambaram and Chengalpet.
Railway officials said that the buffalo got badly entangled beneath the engine which led to difficulty for motormen in removing the carcass. “The train was not stopped for more than 30 minutes as the carcass was removed within that time,” added the official while denying the train was stranded for over 45 minutes.
Commuters said that in the absence of trains towards Beach, no announcements were made at the Guindy station for this period. “This shows the lack of responsibility from the railways side,” said another commuter.
