The incident occurred around 8:30 pm on the Chennai-Gudur section between Ponneri and Kavaraippettai railway stations under Chennai division of South Western railway, leading to derailment of 12 coaches of the passenger train
A high-level enquiry has been ordered into the incident, and at present the work to restore the track at the accident spot was going on in full swing, the railway authorities said
The Train No.12578 Mysuru - Darbhanga Bagmati Express collided with a stationary goods train at 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
"After all the passengers arrived, they were boarded onto the passenger special towards Darbhanga, via Arakkonam, Renigunta and Gudur," a release said
The passengers were provided with food packets and water and the special train left at 4.45 am, it said
"It was not supposed to stop here (Kavaraipettai station), so it was to pass through it. 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," R N Singh, General Manager of Southern Railway, said
The reasons for this were a matter of investigation. Seven to eight people have suffered injuries, and there are no casualties, Singh told reporters
Meanwhile, the southern railway has rescheduled trains passing through this section. Accordingly, the Visakhapatnam Express scheduled to leave Dr MGR Chennai Central railway station at 10 am on October 12 has been rescheduled to leave at 12.30 pm and will run via diverted route of Arakkonam, Renigunta and Gudur, duly skipping stoppage at Sulurupetta
Track restoration work at the accident spot was going on in full swing and the General Manager and Additional General Manager, Southern Railway, and Principal Heads of departments and other officials of railways are at site overseeing the work, a release here said
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.jpg "The reasons for this were a matter of investigation. Seven to eight people have suffered injuries, and there are no casualties, Singh told reporters")
