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THE GOAN NETWORK
VASCO/MARGAO
Several passengers and pilgrims who had left for Vailankannni on a pilgrimage could not make it for the Maddi of Our Lady of Vailankani at Vailankani in Tamil Nadu on Thursday as the train was delayed for over 12 hours.
Passengers faced a lot of inconveniences after the direct train made several stop overs, some that lasted for hours together.
Speaking to The Goan, several passengers said the direct train stopping at various locations for signals and cross over caused a lot of inconveniences to them, especially children who were present along with them.
The train had left the Vasco Railway station at 11 am on Wednesday and was to reach Vailankannni station at around 11 am on Thursday morning.
But according to sources, the train was far away from its final destination and did not reach Vailankani even at 9 pm on Thursday.
When The Goan spoke to Mario D'Souza, a member of Raia panchayat who was also stuck on the train, D'Souza said, "The pilgrims travelling by the special train were expecting to reach Vailankanni on Thursday noon so that they could participate in the Maddi ceremony, but in vain."
When contacted, Vasco Station manager Ramdas Gudemane admitted the delay in travel time and informed that the delay was primarily because the train was moving through the diverted route.
"The train has not been moving on its normal route but a diverted route. The Konkan Railway has been closed after there was a landslide and this train had to be moved via Londa, Hubli and Hospet route.”
“Train 17135 Vailankannni Express had left from Vasco Railway station on time and the train had around 23 coaches, wherein the train with 20 coaches had additional three coaches attached at Margao Railway station.”
“The train is on a diverted route and so we cannot find out how and where it is delayed, but as per our information, the train will reach the final destination by Thursday midnight," said Gudemane.
Having missed the Maddi ceremony, the pilgrims hope the train arrives at Vailankanni at the earliest so that they prepare for the first day of the Novena on Friday.
Pilgrims heading to Vailankanni had a tough time this year to make it to the pilgrim center due to the disruption in the rail services due to the land slide on the Palghat section of the Southern railways.
