Derailment hits train traffic

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, NOV. 25. Passengers of the Bangalore-Guwahati Express had a miraculous escape when two sleeper coaches of the train derailed at 9.25 a.m today between Ennore and Athipet, about 25 km from here. Excepting a few passengers travelling in the derailed coaches who sustained bruises, no one was injured.

After detaching the derailed coaches, which were third and fourth from the rear and the last two coaches, the train resumed its journey with a delay of about five hours. Passengers in these four coaches were accommodated in other compartments.

The train had left Bangalore at 11.30 p.m. on Friday.

Owing to the mishap, traffic on the section was affected for about four hours and was restored in one of the two lines at 2.30 p.m. EMU services on the section were suspended beyond Ennore and the services were maintained between Chennai Central and Ennore. The railway administration disembarked both the driver and guard of the train for a medical check-up and a new crew was asked to take charge of the train.

Official sources said a major accident could be averted as the train was proceeding at a slow speed. It is said the wheel of one of the derailed coaches broke a few minutes after the train left Ennore station and the broken wheel was dragged for about a kilometre before the derailment. There were scratches on one of the rails and the concrete sleepers were damaged for about a kilometre because of dragging of the damaged wheel. The battery box beneath one of the derailed coaches was completely damaged.

Some of the passengers, who were travelling in the affected compartments, told The Hindu they heard noise of scratching and flying of ballast from the track for about a kilometre and a big thud before the derailment. A few passengers, who were sitting in the affected coaches, fell from their seats.

Mr. B. P. Kagwad, Superintending Engineer of a hydro- electric power project in Bhutan, who was travelling in the AC two-tier coach, said the accident might have been caused by a mechanical failure. He said poor maintenance of the coaches was the main reason for the mishap.

Following the accident, the departure of the Chennai-Howrah Coromandel Express and the Chennai-Ahmedabad Navjivan Express was delayed. The incoming Pinakini Express from Vijayawada, the Lucknow Express and the Patna Express were detained at way-side stations till the traffic was restored.

The Chennai Railway Divisional Manager, Mr. R. Gopinathan Nair, and other divisional officials supervised the restoration work.

An enquiry has been ordered into the cause of the accident, according to Southern Railway sources.

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Section  : Southern States
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