A high-speed tragedy was narrowly avoided in the Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala on Tuesday night, December 23, 2025. The loco pilot of the Kasaragod–Thiruvananthapuram Vande Bharat Express (Train No. 20633) saved lives by applying emergency brakes after spotting an autorickshaw stranded on the railway tracks.
The Incident: High-Speed Response
The incident occurred around 10:10 PM near the Akathumuri Halt station in the Varkala–Kadakkavur section.
- The Obstacle: As the train rounded a curve, the loco pilot noticed an autorickshaw infringing on the down line.
- The Impact: Despite the immediate application of emergency brakes, the train—traveling at high speed—could not stop instantly. It collided with and dragged the autorickshaw for a short distance.
- The Escape: Witnesses reported that the autorickshaw driver managed to jump out of the vehicle moments before the collision.
The Driver: “Sudhi” Taken into Custody
Following the incident, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and local police launched an immediate search.
- The Arrest: The driver, identified as Sudhi (28), a native of Kallambalam, was taken into custody.
- Intoxication: Preliminary investigations and medical checks suggest that Sudhi was under the influence of alcohol at the time.
- The Entry: Locals and officials stated that the driver appeared to have driven the autorickshaw through the station platform and onto the tracks before getting stuck.
Timeline of Recovery & Operations
The accident caused significant panic among passengers and briefly paralyzed the section’s rail traffic.
| Time (IST) | Event |
| 10:10 PM | Emergency brakes applied; collision occurs. |
| 10:35 PM | Fire and Rescue Services arrive; begin removing debris using ropes. |
| 11:15 PM | Track safety check completed; train cleared to resume. |
| 11:50 PM | Vande Bharat reaches Thiruvananthapuram Central (Delayed by 1 hour). |
Note: No injuries were reported among the passengers or railway staff. Sudhi sustained minor injuries from his jump and was treated under custody.
Vande Bharat Fleet Update
In unrelated but significant news, a new Vande Bharat Express connecting Chennai to Narasapur (Coastal Andhra) was flagged off on the same day (Wednesday, Dec 24), expanding the high-speed network across South India.