Eleven coaches of a Bengaluru-bound Island Express derailed on Friday near Vellore in Tamil Nadu, leaving about 10 people injured and affecting rail traffic. According to a railway spokesperson, eleven coaches of the Kanyakumari-Bangalore city express derailed between Somanayakanpatti and Patchur in Tamil Nadu.
The train, which runs daily, left Kanyakumari on Thursday morning and was scheduled to reach Bengaluru at 7am on Friday.
Local police said no casualties have been reported in the incident so far. The railway spokesperson said that the injured have been moved to nearby hospitals while senior officials have rushed to the site of the derailment at Natrampalli, about 140km from Bengaluru. Police said that arrangements are being made to transport the passengers to Bengaluru.
According to sources, the derailment occurred due to suspected rail fracture but the railway spokesperson said that the cause is yet to be ascertained. Meanwhile, the Railways announced complete or partial cancellation of about 15 train services, including the Chennai-Bangalore double decker express.
Railways have operationalised helpline numbers following the incident, the spokesperson said. These are some of the helpline numbers tweeted by the Ministry of Railways:
Bangalore – 08022156553, 08022156554, 08022873103
Cantonment – 08023339162
Railway – 58885
Krishnrajapuram – 08025650308
The Hindu reported that the following trains have been cancelled following 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)