Train services hit after tree falls on rail track

Kochi: Train services in central Kerala were affected after a huge tree fell on both the railway tracks at Pachalam on Sunday morning.
The tree, situated on private land, uprooted around 9.45am, forcing trains in both directions to halt at various places.
The services resumed at 11.48am after clearing logs from the tracks by fire force and railway staff.
The tree fell just before Venad Express to Shoranur was scheduled to leave Ernakulam Town station at 9.50am. Railway officials said their staff had approached the landowner to fell the tree.
“However, the owner denied permission. But it got uprooted in the morning. As per the railway rules, dangerous trees situated within 30m distance of railway land can be felled. As there is a legal dispute between the brothers over the land, we could not cut the tree despite serving notice to the owner,” said an official.
As the tree fell on the power lines, it also snapped. Services of five trains in both directions were affected.