Guard fails to turn up for duty; 45 min delay in departure

: The Dindigul-Tiruchi passenger train was delayed for 45 minutes today as the guard did not turn up for duty, forcing railways to send a substitute guard from another train to operate it today.
A large number of passengers, including devotees going for the Velankanni festival, had gathered at the station to board the train, which normally leaves at 6.15 AM. The train is linked to Velankanni bound train from Tiruchirapalli,
Tension prevailed in the station as irate passengers had heated arguments with officials who wanted to cancel the train. Finally a guard from another train was posted and the train left after a delay of 45 mintues.

The passengers told the officials they had booked for the onward journey and could not go by the next train, which was scheduled to leave only at 11 AM.