Kavaraipettai train accident: Southern Railway beefs up security at key sections in Chennai division

The Southern Railway has begun installing CCTV cameras in key areas in the Chennai division to thwart any act of sabotage and monitor movement of trains where track changes occur. 

The move came after the Mysuru-Darbhanga Bagmati Express rammed into a stationed goods train after it crossed the Kavaraipettai station near Chennai on October 11. Twelve coaches of the express train derailed, while there were no casualties. The train had run into the loop line though the signal was given to enter into the main line. A subsequent enquiry and investigation into the accident found that nuts and bolts were deliberately removed in a suspected act of sabotage. 

Following this, the Southern Railway has begun installing CCTV cameras at key sections in the Chennai division with an aim to prevent any more attempts of damage to the railway properties, due to accidents. The southern railway is concentrating on key areas like the Ennore-Elavur section near Chennai at the initial stage.

“We will begin the work soon, in the next few days, to install CCTV cameras,” says G.M. Eswara Rao, principal chief security commissioner, Southern Railway. The cameras are to be installed at important signal points where the trains go for track changes. 

The CCTV cameras will be linked to the surveillance systems in the stations. At the first stage, 10 stations will have these surveillance systems to monitor the track changes.