19 injured after Mysuru-Darbhanga Express slams into goods train; efforts underway to restore track

Chennai: At least 19 passengers onboard the Mysuru-Darbhanga Express collided suffered injuries after it collided with a stationary goods train near Gummudipoondi in Tamil Nadu on Friday night, leading to derailment of 13 coaches.

Though many coaches went off the track, there were no casualties as the accident took place near the Kavaraipettai station area, prompting people in near-by villages to rush to the spot and pull out passengers. Eye-witnesses said personnel from the Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue services too reached the spot within minutes of the accident and helped rush the injured to hospitals to Chennai, 50 kms from the location.

Southern Railway (SR) General Manager R N Singh has ordered a detailed inquiry into the accident.

SR said the accident took place at around 8:30 pm when the express train was running at a speed of 75 km per hour. The train with LHB coaches passed the Ponneri station at 8:27 pm and had the green signal to enter Kavaraipettai station.

“…the train crew experienced heavy jerk and instead of going into the main line as per the signal given, the train entered into the Loop line and hit the goods train standing in loop line. The crew is safe,” it said.

Sources in the Tamil Nadu government put the number of injured passengers at 19, of which 14 have suffered major injuries, and the remaining five minor injuries.

“19 people have reported injured with fracture and other injuries. While people with major injuries are being rushed to Stanley Medical College Hospital in Chennai, those with minor injuries are being treated at Ponneri government hospital,” a top TN government official told DH. SR said seven injured received ex-gratia, without giving further details.

While 13 coaches of the passenger train, which is a favourite among migrant workers from north India, were derailed, the parcel van caught fire due to the impact of the collision. The fire was put out by Fire and Rescue services personnel, who along with NDRF personnel are working to remove the derailed coaches from the track.

The accident led to massive disruption in train services along the ever-busy Chennai-Vijayawada section, with at least 38 trains being diverted through Arakkonam and Renigunta, while a couple of trains were cancelled. The route connects the Tamil Nadu capital with New Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Nagpur, among other cities.

Moving swiftly, the Southern Railway (SR) transported about 1,200 passengers of the train to Chennai Central via EMUs and other mode of transport. The stranded passengers, after a medical check-up, left for their respective destinations in a special train that departed Chennai Central railway station at 4:45 am on Saturday.

Officials said the focus now is on restoring the track for traffic, which is being overseen by Southern Railway General Manager and other senior officials.

Chief Minister M K Stalin said he has deputed Minorities Welfare Minister S M Nasser to the accident site and that a dedicated team is working on alternate arrangements for the affected passengers. “Fire and Rescue services personnel are involved in retrieving the derailed coaches from the tracks. I continue to monitor the rescue operations,” Stalin added.