Nine coaches of Kanyakumari-Bengaluru train derail

Traffic on Chennai – Bengaluru section affected; several trains cancelled.

Southern Railway announced the cancellation of Double Decker, Lalbagh and Brindavan among other express trains between the two cities on Friday. Photo: Serena Josephine

Fourteen persons sustained injuries when nearly nine coaches of Bangalore-Kanyakumari Island Express bound to Bengaluru derailed near Natrampalli, nearly 90 km from Vellore, during the early hours of Friday.

The accident occurred at 4.08 a.m. when the train was on Vetapattu bridge in Natrampalli. Officials of the Bangalore railway division, including Divisional Railway Manager, rushed to the spot.

The passengers were rescued and 14 persons, who sustained injuries, were treated at the government hospital in Natrampalli. Doctors said the passengers sustained minor injuries.

The injured passengers were travelling in coaches S6, S7 and S8. These coaches had capsized in the accident.

Other passengers are being brought to Bengaluru by seven buses and also by special train from Jolarpet.

Collector R. Nanthagopal, who rushed to the spot, said the passengers sustained minor injuries. Tea and breakfast were arranged to the passengers. Some passengers were transported to Jolarpettai by five buses and accomodated in the Jolarpettai Bengaluru passenger train.

Works to remove the derailed coaches are underway.

Trains cancelled

Traffic on Chennai–Bengaluru section has been affected. Southern Railway announced the cancellation of Double Decker, Lalbagh and Brindavan among other express trains between the two cities on Friday. The helpline to be contacted in Chennai Central station is 2533 0714.

The following are the helpline numbers at Bangalore City, Bangalore Cantonment and Krishnarajapuram Railway Stations: 080-22156553, 080-22156554, 080-22873103, 080-23339162, 080-25650308.

Possible cause

Officials say preliminary investigations show that the derailment seems to be because of a break in the rail line.

The line is expected to be cleared by tomorrow, said Sanjiv Agarwal, divisional railway manager, Bengaluru.

Following trains have been cancelled due to the derailment

Chennai-Bangalore Double Decker Express (22625)

Bangalore-Chennai Double Decker Express (22626)

Chennai Bangalore Brindavan Express (12639)

Bangalore Chennai Brindavan Express (12640)

Chennai Bangalore Lalbagh Express (12609)

Bangalore Chennai Express (12610)

Chennai Bangalore Express (12607)

Bangalore Chennai Lalbagh Express (12608)

Bangalore Arakkonam Passenger (56262)

Jolarpettai Bangalore Express (16519)

Arakkonam Bangalore Passenger (56261)

(With inputs from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka Bureaus)