Wed Sep 17 00:00:00 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and news article version of the provided text:
**Summary:**
In October 1964, an attempted railway sabotage near Chennai was averted thanks to the quick thinking of an Engine Line Reference (ELR) gangman named Rajagopal and a local Scheduled Caste leader, Thangavelu. They discovered missing fish-plates on a bridge and managed to stop the approaching Tuticorin Express. An investigation revealed the act was carried out by a group of railway gangmen disgruntled over working conditions imposed by their Permanent Way Inspector. They were subsequently arrested, tried, and sentenced to three years imprisonment.
**News Article:**
**Near Disaster Averted: How Quick Thinking Saved Hundreds on Chennai-Bound Train in 1964**
**Chennai, Sept. 17, 2025** – A near catastrophe was narrowly avoided on the night of October 24, 1964, thanks to the bravery and swift action of a railway worker and a local leader, recently unearthed records reveal. An attempted sabotage on a railway bridge near Chennai (then Madras) could have resulted in the tragic loss of hundreds of lives aboard the Tuticorin Express.
Engine Line Reference (ELR) gangman Rajagopal was conducting a routine track patrol near Karunguli when he discovered missing fish-plates and keys on the Thandalam bridge, between Padalam and Karunguli stations. Realizing the imminent danger, Rajagopal placed warning detonators and a danger light, but found the light subsequently removed. He enlisted the help of Thangavelu, a local Scheduled Caste leader, who assisted in signaling the approaching Tuticorin Express with a makeshift red lamp. Their desperate efforts succeeded in bringing the train to a screeching halt just before the damaged bridge, preventing a major derailment.
The subsequent investigation by the Crime Investigation Department (CID) revealed a conspiracy by a group of disgruntled railway gangmen, fueled by grievances over stringent work requirements imposed by their Permanent Way Inspector. Angered by the increased workload and subsequent disciplinary action after a strike, the group plotted to discredit the inspector by sabotaging the tracks.
According to archived records from *The Madras Police Journal,* the perpetrators, Narayanasami, Natarajan, Ramasamy, and Velu, were arrested a month later after Velu confessed to the plot. The tools used in the sabotage were recovered from their homes.
All four men were found guilty under section 120 (B) IPC and 126 (b) of the Railway Act of 1890 and sentenced to three years imprisonment following a trial in the Sessions Court at Chingleput (Chengalpattu).
This long-forgotten incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and the impact of labor disputes, highlighting how the quick actions of everyday citizens can avert potential disasters.
First Piper 