Express train collides with goods train in India's Tamil Nadu, fire breaks out in two coaches; several injured

Several people have been injured after a Mysore to Darbhanga Bhagmati Express collided with a goods train at Kavarapettai in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu on Friday (Oct 11) evening, according to railway police.

The incident further led to a fire breaking out in two coaches of the express train. According to reports, several people have been injured, but no fatalities have been reported, at the time of writing.

At least 13 coaches derailed in the incident.

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Rescue operations have begun, Thiruvallur District Collector T Prabhushankar said.

According to initial reports, the train crew experienced a heavy jerk on the track, causing the express train to move onto a loop line and crash into the parked goods train.

"The train was travelling at 109 km/h when its crew suddenly felt a severe jerk. The passenger train entered a loop line and collided with a stationary goods train on the same track," sources told India Today TV.

Following the incident, the Southern Railway’s Chennai Division has released emergency helpline numbers: 044-25354151 and 044-24354995.

Dilip Kumar, executive director of information andpublicity for the Railway Board, said that the relief and rescue team has reached the incident site and evacuated over 90 per cent of the passengers.

“Information has been received about the accident of 12578 Bagmati Express. So far, the relief and rescue team from the railway has reached the accident site and the work of evacuating passengers from all the coaches is going on. More than 90% of the passengers have been evacuated. We have not received any information of any casualty or serious injury so far,” he said.

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He continued, “Both the relief team and the medical team are present at the accident site. GM Sadan Railway and DRM Sadan Chennai Division have left for the accident site. Necessary arrangements are being made by the railway from Chennai station to take the rest of the passengers to their destination.”

Moreover, most passengers have been rescued, and the injured have been taken to local hospitals for treatment.

The collision of trains has disrupted the train traffic on the route and services have been temporarily halted.

(With inputs from agencies)