Shoranur: A major train tragedy was averted although a sleeper coach on the Silchar-Thiruvananthapuram Superfast Express developed crack during the course of the journey. Fortunately, the train was moving slowly when the fissure was noticed as it reached the minor Vallathol Nagar railway station in Thrissur district on Monday. The dilapidated coach, S10, developed the crack near the door and was being used beyond its expiry date of October 31.

The major defect was noticed as the weekly train, which covers 3,932 km from Silchar in faraway Assam, had passed Shoranur and reached the Vallathol Nagar station. The train had stopped at the station awaiting green signal, after passing slowly over the Bharathapuzha bridge.

The loco pilot, who had noticed a problem as the train was in motion, then reported it to the guard. He had initially thought a problem from gas leak in the break system had arisen, but found the long crack on checking further.

The passengers, who were asleep, realised the problem only when technical staff arrived for checks. The train proceeded after detaching the S10 coach at Vallathol Nagar. Passengers on the damaged coach were accommodated in other coaches.

It is understood that the coach was to undergo maintenance work at Thiruvananthapuram after arriving there on Monday. The railway safety commission has launched an inquiry.