He had meticulously maintained rail tracks for over three decades and railway colleagues were preparing to give him a warm farewell.

But colleagues of Bhaskaran, a senior technician at the railway station in Kollam, were soon making funeral arrangements.

He was knocked down on Thursday by a train on the tracks he had maintained for 31 years, officials said.

On his last day in office, Bhaskaran had come to work as usual. He was returning after attending to a stationary train when a train being shunted in the reverse direction ran over him, splitting his body into two.

The grim tragedy struck three hours prior to his retirement from service where he had made a mark for himself by his punctuality and sincerity, his colleagues said.

Bhaskaran's wife Lakshmikutty and his five children were eagerly waiting to welcome him when they heard the shocking news.