Kozhikode railway station in Kerala restores train services after clock tower collapse

Train services at the Kozhikode railway station in Kerala, which saw severe delays on Thursday following the collapse of the century-old clock tower on platform 2, have been restored to normal.

Debris clearance and demolition work continue at the site on Friday following the structural failure during intense monsoon rains.

​”As of now, there is no disruption in train schedule or route. Trains are being operated through tracks 1 and 4 while clearance work continues on Platform 2,“ said a railway official.

​Services were crippled on Thursday after falling debris from the collapsed tower damaged overhead traction lines, forcing authorities to cut the power supply across platforms 1, 2, and 3.

Several trains, including the Jan Shatabdi Express, were regulated and halted at nearby stations while railway staff cleared debris that had fallen onto the tracks.

​At present, the demolition and clearance work is underway at the site, and the process will be carried out gradually. The controlled demolition of the remaining clock tower structure is progressing under the supervising of senior officials of the Palakkad Division. The work would proceed in phases with adequate safety measures in place, he said.

​Addressing questions regarding accountability, the official said that no inquiry has been ordered into the incident so far and the Railways would look into the matter only after restoration work at the site is completed.

(The writer, Arya. M, is an intern with The Hindu)