A major train collision near Chennai on Friday night left at least seven people injured and caused significant disruption to rail services in Tamil Nadu. The incident occurred when the Mysuru-Darbhanga Express collided with a stationary goods train at Kavarapettai around 8:30 PM. The express train mistakenly entered a loop line instead of the main line, leading to a severe crash that resulted in the derailment of 12 bogies.
Passengers aboard the train recounted the terrifying moments following the impact. “We were on the train when suddenly there was a loud noise, and no one understood what had happened,” one passenger told news agency PTI. “After about five minutes, when we looked outside, we saw the train had overturned, and there was complete chaos.” The passenger described scenes of panic, with some coaches catching fire and others derailing. Fortunately, they managed to reach a nearby local station unharmed.
In total, seven passengers sustained injuries, with three of them gravely hurt and admitted to Stanley Medical College Hospital. The remaining injured were treated at the Government Hospital in Ponneri. Despite the severity of the collision, no fatalities have been reported. All passengers, except those injured, were later transported to Darbhanga via a special train arranged for them.
Investigation and Response
In response to the incident, a high-level inquiry has been launched. A.M. Chowdhary, the Commissioner of Railway Safety, conducted a statutory inspection of the accident site, supported by senior officials from Southern Railway. RN Singh, the Southern Railway General Manager, provided an explanation for the crash. “It was not supposed to stop here at Kavarapettai station; it was meant to pass through,” he stated. “After leaving Chennai, green signals were given for this train, and the driver was following the signals correctly. However, the train should have taken the main line but mistakenly took the loop line at the switch.”
The collision has disrupted train schedules in the area, resulting in several trains being rescheduled or diverted. Track restoration work is currently underway, with senior railway officials overseeing the recovery efforts. Railway doctors conducted medical screenings for passengers before they boarded the special train, and ex-gratia payments were provided to those injured in the accident.
Sources By Agencies
