GT Express Windshield Damaged, ALP Injured In Prakasam

What are you doing? The windshield of the New Delhi-Chennai Grand Trunk (GT) Express was shattered after objects allegedly thrown from a passing train hit the locomotive between Singarayakonda and Ulavapadu railway stations in Prakasam district in the early hours of Thursday, disrupting train operations and injuring a railway employee.

Senior assistant locomotive M. Jayaram suffered a head injury when he was hit by the broken glass inside the locomotive cabin. The incident took place around 1 am when the GT Express was heading towards Chennai after passing Singarayakonda station.

According to the information obtained, Ernakulam-Bilaspur Express was passing on the adjacent line at that time. It was claimed that some passengers threw leftover food packages and empty liquor bottles from the train, which hit the windshield of the GT Express locomotive. The impact shattered the engine’s windshield, forcing the train crew to stop the train on this section before carefully taking it to the Ulavapadu shipyard.

The injured locomotive assistant was transported to Ulavapadu Government Hospital by 108 ambulance and later referred to the railway hospital in Vijayawada for further treatment. The railway protection force in Ongole registered a case and initiated an investigation.

Meanwhile, railway authorities arranged for a replacement locomotive at Ulavapadu and connected it to GT Express. The train continued its journey at around 03.30 after the spare engine was installed. After reaching Bitragunta, an alternative locomotive crew was arranged and the train continued its journey.