Accident Occurs Near Chennai as Express Train Enters Wrong Track
On Friday evening, a passenger train collided with a stationary goods train in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruvallur district, resulting in the derailment of 12 coaches and leaving 19 passengers injured. The incident, which occurred around 8:30 PM at Kavaraippettai railway station near Chennai, is currently under investigation.
The Mysuru-Darbhanga Bagmati Express, carrying 1,360 passengers, was traveling at 75 kmph when it unexpectedly entered a loop line instead of the main line. The resulting collision caused extensive damage, including a fire in one of the power cars.
Tiruvallur District Collector Dr T Prabhushankar reported that while 19 passengers sustained injuries, four were considered severe and promptly taken to a nearby hospital. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported thus far.
In the aftermath of the accident, authorities quickly mobilized to assist affected passengers:
- Stranded travelers were transported to Dr MGR Chennai Central railway station via MTC buses.
- A special train departed early morning to carry passengers to their intended destinations.
- Food and water were provided to those affected by the disruption.
R N Singh, General Manager of Southern Railway, explained the circumstances of the accident: “Despite the signal for the main line, the train entered the loop line. It hit the goods train from behind, causing the engine to derail.”
The incident has led to significant disruptions in rail services:
- 18 scheduled trains were cancelled on October 12.
- Several other trains faced diversions, rescheduling, or cancellations.
Officials estimate that full restoration of rail services on this route may take up to 24 hours, with normal operations expected to resume by Saturday evening.
A high-level inquiry has been ordered by the railway authorities. Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) Anant Madhukar Chowdhary has already inspected the site to determine the exact cause of the accident and derive lessons for future prevention.
Chief Minister M K Stalin expressed shock over the incident and assured that the government is working swiftly on rescue and relief efforts. He stated, “The injured are immediately taken to the hospital. A separate team is functioning to arrange food and travel facilities for the other passengers to return home.”
As investigations continue, authorities have deployed sniffer dogs to assist in the ongoing probe. The railway officials noted that the train crew had experienced a heavy jerk before entering the loop line, though both the pilot and loco pilot are reported to be in good health.
For those seeking information about affected passengers, helpline numbers have been set up for the Chennai Division and other relevant stations.
