Chennai: On Saturday, a National Investigation Agency (NIA) team visited the site of a train collision at Kavaraipettai railway station in Tamil Nadu, where a moving passenger express train collided with a stationary goods train, injuring at least 19 people. The incident took place on Friday evening near Chennai.
The accident occurred when the Mysuru-Darbhanga Bagmati Express entered a loop line instead of the main line. The collision caused a fire in two coaches and derailed 13 of them. The Indian Railways has initiated a high-level investigation into the incident. Restoration efforts are ongoing, but heavy rain has slowed progress. Railway officials reported on Saturday morning that it would take around 16 hours to complete the restoration work. In the meantime, stranded passengers were transferred to a special train early on Saturday morning to continue their journey. Those injured in the accident have been hospitalized for treatment.
Drone footage captured the scene, showing damaged coaches scattered across the site, with a crowd gathered at the location. The accident occurred around 8:30 pm on Friday. According to railway officials, the crew felt a heavy jolt as the train approached Kavaraipettai station. Despite receiving green signals, the train switched onto the loop line instead of the main track, leading to the collision.
RN Singh, General Manager of Southern Railway, explained, "The train was not supposed to stop here; it was meant to pass through the station. After leaving Chennai, green signals were given, and the driver followed them correctly. However, the train mistakenly took the loop line at the switch, which caused the collision."
The accident resulted in a fire in the train's parcel van, and 13 coaches derailed. Train services on the affected stretch have been suspended while restoration work is carried out. The Railways has cancelled two trains and diverted several others to alternate routes.
Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi criticized the central government, stating that it had not learned from past train accidents. 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?"
Chief Minister MK Stalin assured that he was closely monitoring the rescue and restoration operations. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin visited the injured passengers at Government Stanley Medical College in Chennai, while Minister Avadi Nasar and senior officials led the rescue efforts on site.
According to the Railways, over 95 percent of passengers were safely evacuated from the affected coaches, and there have been no reported fatalities or severe injuries. A special train carrying stranded passengers of the Mysuru-Darbhanga Bagmati Express departed from Chennai Central railway station at approximately 4:45 am on Saturday to resume their journey. The Railways ensured that food and water were provided to passengers during the wait.
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