The Mysore-Darbhanga Bagmati Express reportedly collided with a stationary goods train in Tamil Nadu's Kavarapettai on Friday evening. Several people were feared injured in the incident, the Railway Police was quoted as saying by reports.
A fire broke out after train number 12578, Mysore-Darbhanga Bagmati Express, met with the accident, another report said. The cause and extent of the rail accident were immediately not known. However, some reports claimed that the accident happened when the Express crossed the signal cleared for the main line but entered the loop line to ram into the goods train.
The accident has disrupted train services on the Chennai-Gudur section. Gummidipoondi MLA TJ Govindarajan reportedly told DT Next that rescue efforts were initiated by residents who used tractors to clear the path leading to the accident site to help fire and rescue vehicles reach the spot without any hindrances. A few of the injured persons were shifted to nearby hospitals while those who escaped unhurt were moved to marriage halls in the area, the MLA reportedly added.
Kavarapettai is part of the Thiruvallur district adjoining Chennai.
Confirming the incident, Tamil Nadu Police said rescue teams have been dispatched to Kavarapettai as at least two coaches have derailed following the collision, the Times Of India (TOI) said in a report.
A video shared by news agency PTI on X showed flames raging near a derailed train coach in the dark as people stood a distance.
According to the information on the IndianRail website, the weekly Bagmati Express begins its journey from Mysuru Junction at 10:30 AM every Friday. Perambur is its last stop in Tamil Nadu (7:30 PM) before it crosses over to Andhra Pradesh and halts at Gudur Junction at 10:13 PM. Jolarpettai Junction, Katpadi Junction and Arakkonam Junction are its other stops in Tamil Nadu, the timetable showed.
(Southern Railway helpline numbers: 04425354151 & 04424354995)