NE NEWS SERVICE
CHENNAI, OCT 12
A senior official from the railway safety conducted a statutory inspection at the Kavaraipettai rail accident site near here on Saturday, the railway said. A team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which probes terrorism cases, on Saturday reached Tamil Nadu’s Kavaraipettai railway station.
Shri A.M. Chowdhary, Commissioner of Railway Safety, Southern Circle, Bengaluru conducted statutory inspection at the Kavaraipettai rail accident site today, the 12th Octorber 2024 assisted by the Senior Officials of #SouthernRailway pic.twitter.com/684l88FjFE
— Southern Railway (@GMSRailway) October 12, 2024
Assisted by senior officials of Southern Railway, Commissioner of Railway Safety, Southern Circle, Bengaluru, A M Chowdhary initiated a thorough inspection of the track, points and blocks, signals, station electronic interlocking systems, control panels and other significant safety, signal and operational aspects, Chief Public Relations Officer, Southern Railway, M Senthamil Selvan, said in a release here.
- The Train No 12578 Mysuru – Darbhanga Bagmati Express collided with a stationary goods train at Kavaraipettai near here around 8.30 pm on October 11
- Among the injured, three grievously injured passengers admitted at Stanley Medical College Hospital, and six passengers with simple injuries treated at Government Hospital Ponneri were given ex gratia payment as per norms.
- Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi slams the central government
The Train No 12578 Mysuru – Darbhanga Bagmati Express collided with a stationary goods train at Kavaraipettai near here around 8.30 pm on October 11 and the passengers were transported by buses to Ponneri and then to Chennai Central by two EMU specials, the railway said.
Among the injured, three grievously injured passengers admitted at Stanley Medical College Hospital, and six passengers with simple injuries treated at Government Hospital Ponneri were given ex gratia payment as per norms.
All other passengers have been rescued, either moved to Chennai Central to board a special train to Darbhanga today morning, or moved to hospitals as needed.
At Chennai Central, Railway doctors conducted a medical check-up for the passengers, after which they were provided food and water and were boarded onto the Passenger Special towards Darbhanga, via Arakkonam, Renigunta and Gudur. The special Train left from Dr MGR Chennai Central at 04.45 hrs with over 1800 passengers.
Restoration work is underway at the site to resume train services. However, rain has affected the pace of the restoration efforts. Railway officials said on Saturday morning that it will take approximately 16 hours for the restoration.
Kavarapettai Restoration Work UPDATE : At 21:05 hrs.
Train No.12434 Nizamuddin – Dr MGR #Chennai Rajdhani Express passed through Kavaraipettai Railway Station UP Mainline. Hence train traffic restored in the section in record time after the accident.#SouthernRailway pic.twitter.com/2AriULXWZi
— Southern Railway (@GMSRailway) October 12, 2024
“It was not supposed to stop here, so it was to pass through the station. After leaving Chennai, green signals were given for this train. The driver was following the signals correctly, but the train should have taken the main line. Instead, it took the loop line at the switch, which is where the error occurred,” RN Singh, General Manager of Southern Railway, said.
Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi slammed the central government, stating that no lessons were learned from the repeated train derailments.
He tweeted, “The Mysuru-Darbhanga train accident mirrors the horrific Balasore accident—a passenger train colliding with a stationary goods train. Despite many lives lost in numerous accidents, no lessons are learned. Accountability starts at the top. How many more families must be destroyed before this government wakes up?”.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin said he was monitoring rescue and restoration work. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin met the passengers who were injured at the Government Stanley Medical College in Chennai. Minister Avadi Nasar and top officials were leading the rescue efforts at the spot.
