Several AC coaches of the Mysore-Darbhanga Bagmati Express derailed after ramming into a stationary goods train in Tamil Nadu's Kavarapettai on Friday evening. Images from the rail accident site in Thiruvallur district adjoining Chennai showed flames emerging from the coaches that got toppled in the impact of the accident.
Fortunately, there were no reports of deaths in the incident even though multiple coaches of the Mysore-Darbhanga Express derailed and suffered damage.
While the cause of the accident was not confirmed by the Indian Railways during the time of compiling this report, it is suspected that the Bagmati Express crossed the signal cleared for the main line but entered the loop line and crashed into the rear of the stationary goods train.
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.
The accident has disrupted train services on the Chennai-Gudur section.
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.