more-in Protesters climbed atop the locomotive at two places in Madurai on Wednesday during the protest over the Cauvery issue by different political parties. “The first incident took place a few yards outside the railway junction when the Nagercoil-Mumbai Express was blocked by a group. The loco pilot alerted the officials and the power was switched off,” said an official. A similar incident occurred again on the platform. Even as the train was chugging out after a brief halt, protesters managed to sneaked into the junction. Agitators from different parties blocked the track and many climbed atop the locomotive. Again, the officials switched off power. “It is a thumb rule that whenever protesters enter the railway premises, we switch off the power as a precautionary measure. The Station Master on duty alerts the control room about the protest and ensures power is switched off. Immediately, the traction power controller is alerted and at the click of a mouse, the power is cut off in the particular section. It usually happens in a few seconds,” the officer said. Overhead cable carries 25,000 volts of power, he said and the chances of survival is very remote for anyone who physically touches the cable. Even the induction from the high voltage power could be felt for two metres around it. “That is why caution boards are put up in railway stations warning passengers against carrying umbrellas near the overhead cables. Even the railway employees are warned against carrying iron rods near it. Enough precaution is taken in foot over bridges so that people do not pour any liquid or urinate in the FOB right over the overhead cables,” the official said.

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