Rail services between Madurai and Rameswaram was disrupted on Wednesday evening after a gale broke a railway level crossing gate boom that eventually snapped the overhead electric cable near Paramakudi railway yard.
Even as power restoration work is under way, Train No. 56716 Rameswaram - Madurai Junction passenger that was scheduled to leave Rameswaram at 6.20 p.m. was fully cancelled. Similarly, Train No.56715 Madurai Junction - Rameswaram Passenger that had left Madurai Junction was partially cancelled between Manamadurai and Rameswaram.
Train Number 16104 Rameswaram-Tambaram Express which left Rameswaram at 4 p.m. got stranded midway for 2.20 hours as the dangling overhead cable was obstructing the track.
Three other express trains -- Train No. 16752 Rameswaram-Tambaram, Train Number 16617 Rameswaram-Coimbatore and Train no. 22621 Rameswaram- Kanniyakumari -- that are usually hauled by AC locomotives were pulled by diesel engines due to the technical snag.
A car trapped under the scaffolding of a huge flex banner that was brought down due to gale at a theatre in Karaikudi in Sivaganga district on Wednesday evening. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Meanwhile, the gale coupled with rain brought down a huge flex banner kept at a theatre in Karaikkudi. The crashing down of the banner damaged a parked car. Similarly, power cut was reported in many places in Karaikudi due to uprooting of trees.
Solar electric panels that were peeled off from the top of a building landed on the carriage way of Madurai-Thoothukudi highway in Kariyapatti disrupting traffic on on Wednesday. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The gale also pulled down overhead electric cables in many places in Kariyapatti. The strong wind peeled off huge solar electric panel from a building at Kariyapatti that flew down to the carriage way of Madurai-Thoothukudi highway. Though the electric equipment caused traffic disruption, it did not cause harm to any road user. Only after the police removed the panels, traffic movement could be restored.