Thiruvananthapuram: Over 700 Keralites in Pune for an entrance examination were on the verge of missing their train back home after the examination was delayed, but managed to catch it after its departure was delayed following the intervention of Leader of Opposition Oommen Chandy.

"These people had gone to Pune for the entrance examination of the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC). We got a call from several frantic parents who said that their children are booked to travel on this train that is to depart from Pune at 6.45 p.m. on Sunday but following a delay in the All India Engineering Entrance Examination, the AFMC exam got delayed and its timing was changed from 2.30-4.30 pm to 4.30 p.m.-6.30 p.m.," Chandy's spokesman told the sources.

Chandy, who was traveling, immediately intervened. "Initially we spoke to a few railway officials who pleaded that they were unable to help and it has to be done at the highest level. Soon, Chandy got in touch with Minister of State for Railways K.H. Muniyappa and it was agreed to delay the train's departure by an hour," he added.

Speaking to the sources, Malappuram resident Mohammed Shafi, who was one of those who managed to catch the train, thanked Chandy for his help. "If it was not for this help from Chandy and the railways, more than 700 of us from Kerala would have been stranded," he said.

"There were six centres in and around Pune city where all the students from Kerala had to write the examination. We rushed to the railway station from the examination centre and the train left at 7.35 p.m.," said Shafi who had accompanied his nephew who was appearing in the entrance exam. IANS