Southern Railway announced extensive rescue operations after the collision, with over 500 personnel from key agencies like the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Department, and local police involved in the operations.
Published Oct 12, 2024 | 3:32 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 12, 2024 | 11:58 PM
NIA investigates Tiruvallur train collision; relief efforts underway
NIA officers are investigating the site of the train accident at Kavaraipettai in Tamil Nadu’s Thiruvallur district.
They are examining the rails, noting loose nuts and bolts, and assessing whether a conspiracy may have contributed to the collision.
On Friday, 11 October, Train No. 12578 Mysuru-Darbhanga Bagmati Express to Andhra Pradesh rear-ended a stationary goods train, resulting in its 12 coaches derailing, including four AC compartments.
Several passengers were injured and transported to nearby hospitals. The empty freight train took the impact of the collision, minimising the tragedy. The safer Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches of the express train also helped.
By Saturday evening, restoration works were progressing rapidly, with the up-line cleared of derailed coaches and wagons.
A total of 10 coaches, including nine AC coaches and a power car of the express train, along with two goods wagons, have been removed using cranes. With the derailed rolling stock cleared, engineering track restoration and Overhead Equipment (OHE) work have commenced.
The collision occurred near Kavaraipettai railway station, after the express train ran into the loop line and hit the goods train. Two compartments of the passenger train caught fire on impact.
Preliminary investigations indicated a signal failure may have been a factor. District officials, including senior police officers, evaluated the situation and coordinated responses.
Southern Railway announced in a press release that extensive rescue and relief operations in collaboration with various agencies following the collision of Bagmati Express and the goods train.
Efforts to restore track safety and operational integrity are ongoing, with over 500 personnel from key agencies like the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Department, and local police involved in the operations.
In light of the incident, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin expressed his shock on X, calling for immediate support for those affected.
திருவள்ளூர் மாவட்டம் கவரைப்பேட்டையில் இரயில் விபத்து நடந்ததை அறிந்து அதிர்ச்சியடைந்தேன்.
தகவல் கிடைக்கப்பெற்றவுடன், மாண்புமிகு அமைச்சர் @Avadi_Nasar அவர்களையும் மற்றும் மாவட்ட ஆட்சியர் உள்ளிட்ட அரசு அதிகாரிகளையும் விபத்து நடந்த இடத்திற்குச் செல்ல உத்தரவிட்டேன்.
மீட்பு மற்றும்…
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) October 11, 2024
Kerala Congress called for the resignation of Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, Electronics & Information Technology.
Mr.@AshwiniVaishnaw, you’re the world’s biggest railway disaster. RESIGN! pic.twitter.com/08IIixu4ax
— Congress Kerala (@INCKerala) October 12, 2024
“Train accidents have become a recurring story under the Modi regime because of failure to learn lessons from past accidents and take appropriate measures to rectify the mistakes,” Tiruvallur MP Sasikanth posted on ‘X’.
“I personally met the victims of the train accident at Kavaraipettai in my Thiruvallur Parliamentary Constituency and condoled with them. I visited the accident site. Repairs in automatic signaling and lack of stability of tracks are the cause of this train accident. Accidents occur due to retrenchment of staff due to corporatization of railway sector and resulting workload.
I request the Union Ministry of Railways and the Railway Minister to take immediate action.
I would like to express my gratitude to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Stalin for speeding up the rescue work under the leadership of Minister Nassar and working to prevent casualties. And my appreciation to the friends, government officials and public who are involved in the rescue operation,” he said.
After visiting the passengers injured in the accident, Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin called on the Union government to stop the series of train accidents
திருவள்ளூர் மாவட்டம் கவரப்பேட்டை அருகே பாக்மதி விரைவு ரயில் சரக்கு ரயிலுடன் மோதிய விபத்தை அறிந்து அதிர்ச்சியுற்றோம். இந்த விபத்தையடுத்து, மாண்புமிகு முதலமைச்சர் @mkstalin அவர்களின் உத்தரவின் பேரில் முழு வீச்சில் மீட்புப்பணிகள் நடைபெற்று வருகின்றன.
ரயில் விபத்தில் காயமுற்று,… pic.twitter.com/MSdkrkU6HG
— Udhay (@Udhaystalin) October 11, 2024
Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, MP, also took to X: “I was shocked to hear the news about the Mysore-Darbanga Bagmati Express train accident that happened in Kavaraippettai, Tiruvallur district. On behalf of the Tamil Nadu government, Chief Minister M.K.Stalin has accelerated the rescue work in the area where the accident occurred…”
திருவள்ளூர் மாவட்டம் கவரப்பேட்டையில் நிகழ்ந்ந மைசூர் – தர்பங்கா பாக்மதி எக்ஸ்பிரஸ் ரயில் விபத்து குறித்த செய்தி அறிந்து அதிர்ச்சியுற்றேன். விபத்து நிகழ்ந்த பகுதியில் தமிழ்நாடு அரசின் சார்பில் மீட்புப் பணிகளை மாண்புமிகு முதலமைச்சர் திரு. @mkstalin அவர்கள் துரிதப்படுத்தியுள்ளார்.…
— Kanimozhi (கனிமொழி) (@KanimozhiDMK) October 12, 2024
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
