VARKALA: The railway police force (RPF) nabbed two persons for placing the root of a coconut tree across the railway track in Kappil. Sajid (27) of Edava and Biju (30) of Kappil are the two arrested. The incident happened Sunday night on the middle of the railway track near Kappil HS. The Chennai-Guruvayur Express train coming from Thiruvananthapuram to Kollam cracked the root of the tree.

The loco pilot of the speeding train noticed the root on the track and tried to stop the train but was knocked over by the cow catch attached just below the engine. A major tragedy was averted due to the timely intervention of the loco pilot. A two-and-a-half-foot-long coconut root was placed across the track.

After the train stopped, the loco pilot informed Thiruvananthapuram railway control room and soon RPF assistant commissioner Sivadas, RPF Inspector Rajani Nair, SI Beena Gopalakrishnan and Ayyarur police reached the spot and inspected. The train resumed its journey after 10 minutes. The RPF and Ayiroor police have registered a case. As per the directive of railway police chief Rajendran, a special team led by DySP K S Prashanth, sub inspector Ithihas Thaha nabbed the accused after a probe conducted.