Nineteen passengers were injured after the Mysuru-Darbhanga Bagmati Express (Train No. 12578) collided with a stationary goods train at Kavaraippettai railway station near Chennai on Friday night. The collision, which occurred around 8:30 pm on the Chennai-Gudur section between Ponneri and Kavaraippettai stations, caused 12 coaches of the express train to derail.
What Caused the Collision?
RN Singh, General Manager of Southern Railways, explained that the Mysuru-Darbhanga Express was not scheduled to stop at Kavaraippettai and was supposed to pass through the station. However, due to an error, the train switched to the loop line instead of continuing on the main line, resulting in the crash. Singh added that the incident is under investigation.
Another railway official confirmed that while the train was traveling at 75 km/h, the crew felt a heavy jerk upon entering the loop line, leading to the collision with the goods train.
Response and Recovery
A special train carrying the stranded passengers of the Mysuru-Darbhanga Express departed from Dr. MGR Chennai Central station early on Saturday morning at 4:45 am. Passengers were provided with food and water during the delay, and the railways set up a help desk to assist affected passengers.
Train Cancellations and Diversions
Following the accident, train services on the Chennai-Gudur section were disrupted. Two trains were canceled, and several others were diverted:
Canceled trains:
– Train No. 12077 Dr MGR Chennai Central – Vijayawada Jan Shatabdi Express
– Train No. 12078 Vijayawada – Dr MGR Chennai Central Jan Shatabdi Express
Efforts to restore services are ongoing.
