At least seven people sustained injuries on Thursday evening when the locomotive of the Chennai–Trivandrum Mail collided with an Electrical Multiple Unit and derailed at the Pattabhiram railway station.
There were no casualties.
Quoting official sources, The Hindu reported that the driver of the locomotive of the Mail (train no. 12623), passed a signal that was in ‘danger’ (red) and hit the EMU that was crossing multiple lines, including the main line track while on its way to Pattabhiram Military Siding station.
"There were not many passengers in the EMU coaches that were hit by the Mail. The driver of Mail applied the brakes in an attempt to slow down the train and hence the damage was minimised," T Sadagopan of Pattabhiram told the newspaper.
A press release by the railways stated:
The locomotive and first two coaches, viz, Luggage cum Brake Van, and General Compartment of Train No.12623 Chennai – Trivandrum Mail got derailed. 7 passengers of EMU train sustained minor injuries. After rendering first aid, they have been rushed to the Avadi Govt Hospital by 108 Ambulance and treated. All four lines between Chennai Central and Tiruvallur were suspended...senior Railway Officers have rushed to the spot to oversee relief and rescue operations.
One line was restored by 10:30 pm while the others were restored later.
2 coaches of Thiruvananthapuram Mail derail in Pattabiram (Chennai), no casualties reported. pic.twitter.com/pyWAxApJCr
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