Bagmati Express Train Derailment Updates: In a tragic incident, Train No. 12578 Mysuru–Darbhanga Bagmati Express collided with a stationary goods train at Kavaraippettai railway station in Tiruvallur district, near Chennai, at around 8:30 PM on Friday.
The passenger train, traveling at 75 kmph, veered into a loop line instead of the main track, causing a severe derailment of at least 12 coaches. Several passengers sustained injuries, and a power car also caught fire.
According to Tiruvallur District Collector Dr. T Prabhushankar, the train carried 1,360 passengers at the time of the accident. “Nineteen passengers have been reported injured, with four suffering severe injuries. They were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported so far,” Dr. Prabhushankar said.
Rescue Operations and Relief Efforts
In the aftermath of the accident, stranded passengers were quickly transported to Dr. MGR Chennai Central railway station through MTC buses past midnight. Early in the morning on October 12, a special train departed from Dr. MGR Chennai Central at 4:45 AM to transport the stranded passengers to their destinations. Food and water were provided during the wait.
The Southern Railway confirmed the rescue operations, tweeting: “A Special Train Departed from Dr. MGR Chennai Central at 04:45 hrs on 12.10.2024 to reach their destination.”
Investigation Underway
Anant Madhukar Chowdhary, Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS), inspected the site to determine the exact cause of the accident. Sniffer dogs were deployed to assist in the investigation. Southern Railway General Manager R N Singh provided a statement on the incident: “The train was headed towards Gudur and further to Andhra Pradesh. A goods train on the loop line was given priority at the station. Despite the signal for the main line, the passenger train entered the loop line, colliding with the goods train from behind, causing the engine to derail.”
ALSO READ: Air India Express flight keeps hovering over Trichy for nearly 2 hours amid technical snag
Officials added that the train crew experienced a “heavy jerk” before entering the loop line. Both the pilot and the loco pilot are reported to be healthy.
Following the accident, several trains scheduled for October 12 were either cancelled, rescheduled, or diverted. As of now, 18 trains have been cancelled, and railway authorities have launched a high-level inquiry into the matter.
Government Response and Relief Efforts
Chief Minister M K Stalin expressed shock at the incident and stated that rescue operations are being conducted swiftly. In a tweet, he said: “The government is working fast in rescue and relief work. The injured are immediately taken to the hospital. A separate team is functioning to arrange food and travel facilities for other passengers to return home. I am continuing to monitor the rescue operations.”
The fire department is actively involved in clearing the derailed coaches. Restoration of services is expected to take 24 hours, with rail services on the affected route likely to resume by Saturday evening.
Helpline Numbers:
Chennai Division: 044 25354151, 044 25330952, 044 25330953, 044 24354995
Samastipur: 06274-81029188
Darbhanga: 06272-8210335395
