he Government Railway Police have ruled out sabotage in the derailment of the Chennai Egmore-Mangalore Central Express (Train No. 16859) near Puvanur in Cuddalore district early on Friday.
Top railway officers, including Additional General Manager R. Venkadasamy, Cuddalore District Collector Suresh Kumar and Superintendent of Police Vijay Kumar rushed to the accident site to oversee relief and restoration work. A massive track restoration work was launched by Southern Railway officials belonging to different departments to rectify the damage and resume services.
Some Chennai–bound trains from Tiruchi and other southern destinations were diverted via main line section. Few other passenger trains were either fully or partially cancelled. Eleven express trains were operated via diverted route.
Railway police sources said three passengers were admitted as in-patients to Government Hospital, Vriddhachalam, while another passenger who sustained grievous injury was admitted to the Villupuram Medical College Hospital.
The Railways paid ex gratia amount ranging from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 25,000.
An accident relief van, a medical relief van and a brakedown special carrying material were dispatched to the accident spot for track restoration.
The express train was detained at the accident spot for three hours and it left without the five derailed coaches around 5 a.m. to reach Vriddhachalam at about 5.30 a.m.
After a two-hour hold up, it left Vriddhachalam at 7.25 a.m. and reached the Tiruchi railway junction at 9.45 a.m. - nearly five hours behind schedule.
The Railways paid ex gratia amount ranging from Rs. 5,000 to
Rs. 25,000
