Chennai: A special train carrying stranded passengers of the Mysuru-Darbhanga Bagmati Express, which collided with a stationary goods train at Kavaraippettai Railway Station, departed from Dr MGR Chennai Central railway station on Saturday early morning to continue its journey.
The train departed from the station at around 04.45 am. The stranded passengers were provided with food and water during the wait, officials said.
Stranded passengers of Train No. 12578 Mysuru - Darbhanga Bagmati Express were provided with food and water
— Southern Railway (@GMSRailway) October 12, 2024
A Special Train Departed from Dr. MGR Chennai Central at 04:45 hrs on 12.10.2024 to reach their destination #SouthernRailway pic.twitter.com/h5lUKQOn3D
Meanwhile, the railways have set up a help desk at Chennai Central Railway Station to assist affected passengers. As many as 19 passengers were injured after the Mysuru-Darbhanga Bagmati Express (Train No.12578) collided with a stationary goods train at Kavaraippettai Railway Station near Chennai on Friday night.
The incident, which occurred around 8:30 p.m. on the Chennai-Gudur section between Ponneri and Kavaraippettai railway stations, led to the derailment of 12 coaches of the passenger train. Train movement on the entire section was affected, forcing the railways to cancel two trains and divert or operate more than half a dozen others via alternate routes.
Help Desk Set Up at Dr. MGR #Chennai Central Railway Station to Assist Passengers of 12578 #Mysuru - Darbhanga #BagmatiExpress #SouthernRailway pic.twitter.com/6iCgfpURUT
— Southern Railway (@GMSRailway) October 12, 2024
A senior official from the railway safety conducted a statutory inspection at the Kavaraipettai rail accident site near here on Saturday, the railway said. Assisted by senior officials of Southern Railway, Commissioner of Railway Safety, Southern Circle, Bengaluru, A M Chowdhary initiated a thorough inspection of the track, points and blocks, signals, station electronic interlocking systems, control panels and other significant safety, signal and operational aspects, Chief Public Relations Officer, Southern Railway, M Senthil Selvan, said in a release here.
According to railway sources, Friday night's accident is similar to the 2023 train accident in Balasore. The train passed the signal given for the main line. But entered the loop line at 75 kmph and collided with the goods train.
Officials said that due to the accident of train No.12578 Mysuru - Darbhanga Bagmati Express at Kavaraipettai in Chennai Division yesterday, the following two trains have been cancelled. This includes -- Train No.12077 Dr MGR Chennai Central - Vijayawada Jan Shatabdi Express and Train No.12078 Vijayawada - Dr MGR Chennai Central Jan Shatabdi Express was cancelled.
திருவள்ளூர் மாவட்டம் கவரைப்பேட்டையில் இரயில் விபத்து நடந்ததை அறிந்து அதிர்ச்சியடைந்தேன்.
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) October 11, 2024
தகவல் கிடைக்கப்பெற்றவுடன், மாண்புமிகு அமைச்சர் @Avadi_Nasar அவர்களையும் மற்றும் மாவட்ட ஆட்சியர் உள்ளிட்ட அரசு அதிகாரிகளையும் விபத்து நடந்த இடத்திற்குச் செல்ல உத்தரவிட்டேன்.
மீட்பு மற்றும்…
More than half a dozen trains were diverted on Friday night. The railways also issued helpline numbers following the accident. Expressing shock over the incident, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin said that he was continuously monitoring the rescue operations and confirmed that the injured passengers had been taken to the hospital.
Taking to X, CM Stalin said, "I was shocked to know that there was a train accident in Kavaripettai, Tiruvallur district. As soon as the information was available, I ordered the Hon'ble Minister @Avadi_Nasar and other government officials including the District Collector to go to the accident site."
He further said that Minister for Minorities SM Nasar and other officials were directed to reach the accident site. He added, "The government is working fast in rescue and relief work. 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."
CM Stalin also noted that the fire department is engaged in removing the derailed train coaches. "I am continuing to monitor the rescue operations," he said. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin visited the injured passengers at the Government Stanley Medical College Hospital in Chennai. (With agency inputs)
