Kannur: The Thiruvananthapuram-Kasaragod Vande Bharat Express had a narrow escape on Saturday. A concrete mixing truck crossed the tracks just ahead of the high-speed train. The incident took place near Payyanur station at around 1 pm.

The loco pilot averted the disaster by applying the emergency brake in time, reducing the train’s speed and avoiding a severe accident. 

Following the incident, the truck driver and the vehicle were taken into custody by the RPF. 

Renovation work is underway at Payyanur station. The truck involved in the incident was reportedly there for construction purposes as part of the ongoing development activities.