An assistant loco pilot was injured after unidentified persons allegedly pelted stones at train 12623 near Vyasarpadi in Chennai on Monday night, shattering the locomotive’s front windshield and briefly disrupting the train’s operation.
The train was travelling from Chennai Central to Thiruvananthapuram when stones struck the locomotive near Vyasarpadi. The injured assistant loco pilot was identified as Vidhun, according to the report. The damage to the front windshield occurred while the train was in motion.
Following the incident, the train was halted at Perambur railway station at around 7.40 p.m. Vidhun was taken to a hospital for treatment. The report did not specify the nature or extent of his injuries.
A second assistant loco pilot subsequently took charge of the locomotive, allowing the train to resume its journey at around 8.30 p.m. The changeover enabled the service to continue towards Thiruvananthapuram after the injured crew member was removed for medical attention.
The incident places attention on the safety risks faced by railway staff and passengers when trains are targeted with stones along busy urban rail corridors. A shattered locomotive windshield can impair visibility for the operating crew and force an immediate operational response, including a stop, medical assistance and replacement of personnel.
The report did not identify the people responsible for the stone pelting or provide a confirmed motive. The incident occurred near Vyasarpadi, an important railway area in north Chennai with multiple passenger and railway operations in its vicinity. The available information also does not establish whether the train or railway property sustained damage beyond the locomotive’s front windshield.
Perambur Railway Police are investigating the incident. The investigation is expected to establish the circumstances of the attack and identify those responsible. Further details about the inquiry, the injured crew member’s condition and any action against the perpetrators were not available in the report.
