Clock Tower crashes onto a train at Calicut Railway Station (Source X)
Calicut (Kozhikode): In a bizarre incident the historic clock tower at Calicut railway station collapsed on Thursday onto a train at the platform.
The station is currently undergoing redevelopment under the Amrit Bharat project with the cost of over Rs.445 Crore.
The incident occurred at around 11.10 a.m., but no passengers were present in the affected area when the structure gave way.
Railway employees who were near the tower noticed the collapse in time and ran to safety, escaping unhurt.
A Kozhikode-Kannur passenger train, scheduled to depart at 2.05 p.m., was standing on Platform No. 2.
However, the train was locked, and no passengers had boarded it, preventing what could have turned into a devastating accident.
The iconic clock tower, situated between Platforms 2 and 3, collapsed along with a portion of the roof, which fell onto Platform No. 2.
The Kozhikode Railway Station (Calicut) redevelopment project upgrades the facility to international standards. Key features include modern east and west terminal buildings, a central concourse, and multi-level parking. Completion is targeted for mid-2027
According to the latest reports, no passengers were injured in the incident.
However Railway authorities maintained that this was not an accident, but rather a planned demolition forming part of the ongoing Kozhikode station redevelopment project. No train services have been disrupted.
The debris also damaged overhead electrical lines, disrupting train services.
The Mangaluru–Thiruvananthapuram Eranad Express was delayed following the incident, while railway authorities suspended passenger access to Platforms 2 and 3 as a precaution.
Preliminary assessments indicate that the collapse was triggered by the structural weakening of the heritage building following days of incessant rain in Kozhikode.
