The historic clock tower of the Kozhikode Railway Station in Kerala, believed to be over a century old, collapsed partially on Thursday morning due to heavy rains, sending tonnes of debris onto overhead power lines and a section of platform number 2, officials said. There were no injuries or fatalities and a major disaster was averted.
However, the collapse of the clock tower disrupted train operations at Kozhikode with several trains delayed and rescheduled.
It was around 11:10 am that the clock tower, part of the old station building currently being renovated, came down onto platform number 2, breaking the overhead power lines and scattering debris all over the place. Railway officials had cordoned off the area around the clock tower on Thursday after they observed certain cracks on the heritage structure the previous day. Operations are underway to bring down the remaining portion of the clock tower and render the area safe for commuters, said officials.
Heavy rains, which have been prevalent in north Kerala including Kozhikode over the past few days, are reported to have severely weakened the historic structure, causing it to break off.
As soon as the structure collapsed, Fire Force, Police and RPF personnel rushed in to clear the debris from the railway tracks and prevent the public from going near the collapsed structure. Railway officials disconnected the power lines over tracks 1, 2 and 3, forcing train operations to be restricted to the fourth track.
{{/usCountry}}As soon as the structure collapsed, Fire Force, Police and RPF personnel rushed in to clear the debris from the railway tracks and prevent the public from going near the collapsed structure. Railway officials disconnected the power lines over tracks 1, 2 and 3, forcing train operations to be restricted to the fourth track.
{{/usCountry}}Thiruvananthapuram Central - Kozhikode Jan Shatabdi Express short-terminated its journey at Kallayi and the pairing train left for Thiruvananthapuram from Kallayi station itself. Trains such as the Netravati Express, Ernad Express and the Kozhikode - Kannur Passenger were delayed.