Thirty-nine passengers were injured after five coaches of Chennai Egmore-Mangalore Central Express derailed near Puvanur in Cuddalore district in Tiruchi Railway Division early on Friday.
The derailment occurred at 2 a.m., throwing traffic out of gear through the day on the busy Villupuram–Tiruchi chord line section that connects Chennai with the southern districts. The express train with 22 coaches was travelling at a good speed on leaving the Villupuram junction, when five of its compartments in the rear side derailed. Three air-conditioned coaches (HA-1, B-1 and B-2), a general second class and a luggage-cum-brake van coach went off the track, said railway sources here. Passengers who were asleep felt a violent jerk in the impact.
The track, sleepers and overhead electric equipment suffered damage. As news spread, public residing in the vicinity rushed to the spot to rescue passengers trapped in the coaches. Passengers from other coaches assisted in the rescue operation. The injured were shifted to a hospital in Vriddhachalam. Services resumed after the track was cleared for traffic. The work was completed by late evening.
