Train mishap averted in Chennai-Howrah Mail Special

A major train mishap wasSaturday averted as the guard of Chennai-Howrah Mail Specialdetected an hot axle in the general second class coach atSompeta in Andhra Pradesh under East Coast Railway, a railwayofficial said.

The officials took prompt action and detached thecoach (second from the rear) at Sompeta, he said.

There were about 90 people in this coach, the officialsaid adding the passengers were accommodated in other coachestill Bhubaneswar.

In Bhubaneswar a general second class coach will beattached to the train and passengers will be shifted toit for the onward journey, he said.

Asked the official said the axle connects wheels oneach side of a train car and keeps the two wheels movingtogether at the same speed when the train is moving. A hotaxle affects the function. This and may even lead to the traincatching fire if it is not detected in time.