The aerodynamic (front) portion of Chennai Egmore - Tirunelveli Vande Bharat express (Train No. 20665) suffered damage following a cattle run over on Vriddhachalam - Ariyalur broad gauge section on Monday evening.
The incident resulted in a brief detention of train services for about 14 minutes from 5.27 p.m. to 5.41 p.m.
Acting swiftly, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) Vriddhachalam Post launched an intensive search operation and mounted surveillance at the site for over six hours and arrested the cattle owner, Sivakumar, a resident of Manalur, Vriddhachalam, when he returned to clear the carcass.
He was booked under section 154 of the Railways Act, 1989 for endangering passenger safety and would be penalised for negligence that led to the loss of the animal and damage to the train.
Such incidents compromise passenger safety and disrupt train operations. Hence, cattle owners and residents of villages along railway lines have been urged to remain alert and ensure that livestock are kept away from the track. Southern Railway has warned that carelessness near the railway track will not be tolerated, a press release from Tiruchi Railway Division said.
