Twelve people were injured, with one person critically wounded, after the Lingampalli-Falaknuma Multi-Modal Transport System (MMTS) train (Train No. 47178) collided with the Kurnool City Secunderabad Hundry Intercity Express (Train No. 17028) at Hyderabad’s Kacheguda station on Monday. The incident occurred at Kacheguda Railway Station towards Falaknuma side around 10.30am. While no casualties have been reported, railway police stated to TNM that at least 12 people have been injured and have been shifted to Osmania General Hospital in Hyderabad.
Chandrasekhar, the driver of the Lingampalli-Falaknuma MMTS train is presently trapped. The Natural Disaster Response Force (NDRF) together with railway officials are carrying out operations to rescue him. Cold-cutting equipments are being used to ensure that Chandrasekhar isn't injured during the course of the rescue.
Visuals from the spot show the engine of the Intercity Express train had a head-on collision with the Lingampalli-Falaknuma MMTS train. Both trains were plying on the same track. South Central Railway’s Chief Public Relations Officer Rakesh told the media that it was the MMTS driver’s fault that lead to the collision. “The MMTS train that was to go from Lingampally to Falaknuma was on Platform 2 of Kacheguda station. The plan was that once the Hundry Express, which was to go from Secunderabad to Kurnool, reaches, it would be taken on to Platform 4 and then the MMTS train would depart. The Express train was given the signal and was entering the station, but the locopilot of the MMTS train also started moving before getting the signal,” he said.
A statement from South Central Railways stated, "Six coaches of MMTS service and three coaches of Hundry Express have been affected while 12 passengers were injured, they were immediately rushed to Osmania General Hospital out of which two of them were discharged. Senior Railway Officials including Sri B. B. Singh, Addl. General Manager, Chief Security Commissioner, Division Railway Manager, Hyderabad, Chief Medical Director, Chief Safety Officer along with Medical Relief Van and Accident Relief Train rushed to the spot to undertake relief and restoration works. A high-level enquiry will be conducted on the incident."
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He also added that the impact of the collision was less as the trains were slow. The CPRO said, “One train was at the station, and the other was approaching the station. Because of this, the speed of both trains was very slow. So, the impact was minor and the passengers who were injured — two were seriously injured and 10 others had minor injuries. The 12 were moved immediately to Osmania General Hospital, and two have been discharged so far.”
Train services in Kacheguda - Falaknuma section have been affected. At least nine trains were cancelled, three trains were partially cancelled and two trains diverted following the accident.
Hyd:Kurnool Intercity &mmts local train collide at Kachegusa Stn, at least 12 injured. Rescue& restoration operation underway. @thenewsminute pic.twitter.com/tnrmcym191
— CharanTeja (@CharanT16) November 11, 2019
The mishap took place at Kacheguda Rly stn' towards Faluknuma side. Lingampalli-Falanuma 47178 derailed due to collision with Hundry Intercity Express (Kurnool) 17028. #Hyderabad #Trainaccident @thenewsminute @dhanyarajendran @anna_isaac pic.twitter.com/lq2A1ptZMm
— CharanTeja (@CharanT16) November 11, 2019
Hyderabad's Multi-Modal Transport System (MMTS) is a suburban railway system which runs between Falaknuma, Lingampalli and Secunderabad. It is a joint venture of the South-Central Railway and the Government of Telangana.
Earlier in May, two officials from the Southern Railway were suspended after two trains in Tamil Nadu were found to be travelling towards each other on the same track. The disaster was averted after the trains were stopped 10 kilometers apart. The incident took place between Madurai and Sengottai. The Madurai to Sengottai passenger train left from Thirumangalam, shortly after which a train from Sengottai to Madurai was given the departure signal from Kalligudi authorities, who spotted the mix up contacted the loco pilots and instructed them to stop the trains immediately, thereby averting a major disaster.