Mysore-Darbhanga Express Accident: Helplines Issued For Affected Passengers, Rescue Ops On — Details

The Mysuru Dibrugarh Darbabgah Express collided with a stationary goods train near Tamil Nadu, injuring 19 and derailing 13 coaches.

Mysuru Dibrugarh Darbabgah Express train, at 75 kmph speed, rammed into a stationary goods train on Friday night as it entered a loop line instead of getting into the mainline near Kavarapettai in Tamil Nadu, leaving at least 19 people injured. Following the collision, a fire broke out in two coaches, and at least 13 coaches derailed.

As per the Railway Board, no casualty has been reported so far in the passenger-freight train collision in the Ponneri-Kavarapettai section in Chennai Rail Division and the injured have been shifted to a nearby hospital. The rail route was closed following the derailment of coaches and stranded passengers of the Mysuru - Darbhanga Bagmati Express were provided with food and water inside the train till the time they were evacuated to a safe location. a special train departed from Dr MGR Chennai Central at 04:45 am to move passengers to the nearest railway station.

Chief Minister MK Stalin, expressing shock said he is monitoring rescue and relief work. "The government is engaged in swift relief and rescue activities," he said. CM Stalin further said that he had rushed Minister Avadi Nasar and top officials to the spot. A separate team is working on facilitating the onward journey of passengers and also taking care of them.

Meanwhile, restoration work is underway at Ponneri- Kavarappettai railway stations (46 km from Chennai) of Chennai Division where the trains collided. In the visuals coming from the accident site, it can be seen that 12-13 coaches of Mysuru-Darbhanga Express were derailed after it collided with a goods train.

Trains Cancelled/Diverted On Route

Due to the closure of Railway tracks for restoration work following the train accident, several trains on the route were either diverted or cancelled. At least 23 trains have been diveretd to other rotes including Train No 12622 New Delhi-Dr MGR Chennai Central-Tamil Nadu Express, Train no 16094 Lucknow Jn-Dr MGR Chennai Central Express, Train No 06090 Santragachi Jn-Dr MGR Chennai Central Special Train, Train No 22673 Bhagat Ki Kothi-Mannargudi Express, Train No 12760 Hyderabad-Tambram Charminar Express, Train No 22802 Vishakapatnam- Dr MGR Chennai Central Superfast Special and Train No 20896 Bhubaneswar-Rameswaram Superfast Express.

Other diverted trains include--Train No 12604 Hyderabad - Dr MGR Chennai Central Express, Train No 12522 Ernakulam - Barauni Raptisagar Express, Train No 08312 Erode - Sambalpur Special, Train No 12296 Danapur - SMVT Bengaluru Express, Train No 22353 Patna -SMVT Bengaluru Express, Train No 18189 Tatanagar - Emakulam Express, Train No 12656 Dr MGR Chennai Central - Ahmedabad Navajivan Express, Train No 22802 Dr MGR Chennai Central - Visakhapatnam Weekly Superfast Express, Train No 06085 Ernakulam - Patna Special Fare Special Train, Train No 06728 Tirupaty - Dr MGR Chennai Central MEMU, Train No 06753 Arakkonam - Tirupaty MEMO, Train No 06754 Tirupaty - Arakkonam MEMO, Train No 12711 Vijayawada - Dr MGR Chennai Central Pinakini Express, Train No 12712 Dr MGR Chennai Central - Vijayawada Pinakini Express, Train No 06745 Sulurupetta - Nellore MEMU Express, and Train No 06746 Nellore - Sulurupetta MEMU Express 

Moreover, 11 trains were cancelled on the route including, Train No 16111 Tirupaty - Puducherry MEMU, Train No 16112 Puducherry - Tirupaty MEMU, Train No 16203 Dr MGR Chennai Central - Tirupaty Express, Train No 16204 Tirupaty - Dr MGR Chennai Central Express, Train No 16053 Dr MGR Chennai Central - Tirupaty Express, Train No 16054 Tirupaty - Dr MGR Chennai Central Express, Train No 16057 Dr MGR Chennai Central - Tirupaty Express, Train No 16058 Tirupaty - Dr MGR Chennai Central Express, Train No 16401 Arakkonam - Puducherry MEMU, Train No 16402 Kadapa - Arakkonam MEMO and Train No 06727 Dr MGR Chennai Central - Tirupaty MEMU. 

Railway Issues Helpline Nos.

Railway officials have issued a series of helpline numbers for passengers caught in the Mysuru-Darbhanga Bagmati train accident.  As per Railways, a war room with a helpline has been established at the Mysuru Control Room which is reachable at 9731143981. Additionally, a help desk has been set up at MYS railway station, which can be reached at 0821-2422400. The 139 helpline is also being operated by MYS divisional officers and personnel have been made available to passengers in need.

Moreover, passengers in need of assistance can reach out to Chennai Division on helpline no-- 044-2535-4151 and 044-2435-4995. For those closer to the accident, people in need can get assistance from Samastipur: 06274-8102918840 and Danapur: 9031069105 stations. 

What Happened?

Dilip Kumar, Executive Director, Information and Publicity of the Railway Board, released a video message soon after the passenger train collided with a stationary freight train and said, "We received information of collision of the Bagmati Express with a freight train at the Kavarapettai station in the Chennai Division. The rescue and relief team reached the accident site immediately.

The train no 12578 Mysuru Dibrugarh Darbabgah Express with LHB coaches, after crossing Ponneri station in Tiruvallur district at 20.27 hours on October 11, was given a green signal to go on. However, "while entering the Kavaraipettai station, the train crew experienced heavy jerk and instead of going into the main line as per the signal given, the train entered into the Loop/line@75kmp & hit the Goods train standing in loop line," a Southern Railway press release said.

The crew is safe and a coach, the parcel van caught fire, which was doused by fire tenders. Further, the railway said train movement in that stretch has been closed adding, "12-13 coaches have derailed. So far, no casualties are reported but some injuries have been reported. All injured are moved to nearby hospitals."

The coaches that have been damaged are being removed from the tracks by fire and rescue personnel. Senior government, railway officials, doctors, ambulances, rescue teams, a medical relief van & senior officers are at the site. "...most passengers have been rescued, either released or moved to hospitals as needed," the railways added.