Hundreds of commuters travelling in the Thiruvanthapuram-Mangalru Express had a miraculous escape as 13 coaches of the train derailed at Karukutty near Angamaly station at 2.20 a.m. on Sunday.
No one was injured in the incident, railway officials said. The stranded were fed breakfast and a special train carrying them to Mangaluru left Chalakudy at 7.30 a.m.
The incident took place when the train was approaching Karukutty station. The derailed coaches have slanted to the adjacent up track blocking traffic.
“We were sleeping and woke up by hearing a big sound around 2.20 a.m. and train coming to a halt. It was raining and we smelled of the accident", R.K. Roshni, Principal Corespondent, The Hindu , who was travelling in S-9 coach along with her husband and daughter, said.
Train services in the State had been hit as railways have cancelled and regulated many trains. The cause of accident is yet to be known. Top railway officials have rushed to the spot. It will take up to 10 hours to restore traffic in the sector, according to railway officials.
Train No.16347 Thiruvananthapuram-Mangaluru express left Thiruvananthapuram at 8.40 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets will be refunded. Buses have been arranged to transport passengers from Karukutty to Chalakudy from where they will be taken to their destination by special trains.
Due to the accident, Train No. 16302 Thiruvananthapuram-Shoranur Venad Express and Train No.12076 Thiruvananthapuram-Kannur Janshatabdi Express leaving Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday, will now run only up to Ernakulam.
The track on which trains run from Chalakudy to Thrissur is likely to be engaged for 10 hours while that to Ernakulam is likely to be engaged for 5 hours.
Helpline Numbers: 9746769960, 9746761072, 0471-2320012.
Due to the derailment, its pairing train, Train No. 12620 Mangalore Central-Lokamanya Tilak Matsyagandha Express is cancelled for Sunday.
