The Mysore-Darbhanga Express collided with a stationary goods train near Kavarapettai in Tamil Nadu, leaving at least 20 people injured. The collision, which occurred at around 8:30 PM on Friday, caused 12-13 coaches of the express train to derail. Fire and smoke began emitting from two coaches after the collision. According to initial inputs, there were no casualties in the incident but at least 20 persons were injured and are being rushed to hospitals. Signal issues are suspected to have caused the accident.
Tamil Nadu Train Collision: No Casualties In Incident, CM MK Stalin Monitors Rescue Ops
The train, identified as Train No. 12578 (MYS-DBG) travelling from Mysore to Darbhanga, had departed from Perambur at 7:44 PM. It was near Kavarapettai around 8:27 PM when it crashed into the rear of a stationary goods train at high speed, resulting in the derailment.
Due to the impact, "the parcel van which was next to the Engine caught fire, which was doused by the fire brigade. A total of 12-13 coaches have derailed. So far, no casualties have been reported. All injured passengers are moved to nearby hospitals for further treatment. Train movement in both directions is closed", CPRO South Western Railway informed, according to news agency ANI.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin shared updates about the rescue and relief operation. He posted in Tamil on X, "I was shocked to know that there was a train accident in Kavaripettai, Tiruvallur district. As soon as the information was available, I ordered Minister SM Nasar and other government officials including the District Collector to go to the accident site."
"The government is swiftly carrying out rescue and relief operations. Those injured in the accident are being immediately taken to the hospital. A separate team is working to provide necessary food and travel arrangements for the remaining passengers to return to their respective places. Firefighters are engaged in removing the derailed train carriages. I am continuously monitoring the rescue operations," he added.
Earlier, District Collector Prabhushankar informed that local hospitals near Kavarapettai are on standby, while medical relief vans and rescue teams were dispatched from Chennai Central to the site. The General Manager of Southern Railway, along with senior officers from the Chennai division, is also en route to the location.
Emergency helpline numbers have been issued by Chennai Division for those seeking assistance.
According to news agency ANI, Dilip Kumar, Executive Director of Information & Publicity (ED/IP), Railway Board informed, "So far, the relief and rescue team from the railway has reached the accident site and the work of evacuating passengers from all the coaches is going on. More than 90% of the passengers have been evacuated. We have not received any information of any casualty or serious injury so far."
"Both the relief team and the medical team are present at the accident site. GM Sadan Railway and DRM Sadan Chennai Division have left for the accident site. Necessary arrangements are being made by the railway from Chennai station to take the rest of the passengers to their destination..." he added.
Meanwhile, a few trains including Tamil Nadu Express bound To Delhi from Chennai Central are cancelled.