The Mysuru-Darbhanga Bagmati Express (Train No. 12578) derailed after colliding with a stationary goods train at Kavaraippettai railway station, located near Chennai.
A Mysore-Darbhanga passenger train collided with a stationary goods train at Kavaraippettai railway station; restoration work is in progress.
A major accident involving the Mysuru-Darbhanga Bagmati Express (Train No. 12578) occurred late Friday night at Kavaraippettai railway station near Chennai. The passenger train collided with a stationary goods train, resulting in the derailment of 12 coaches and leaving at least 19 passengers injured, three of whom are in critical condition. Fortunately, no fatalities were reported, and the injured were promptly taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Incident Details
The accident took place around 8:30 pm on the Chennai-Gudur section, between Ponneri and Kavaraippettai stations, causing significant damage to both trains. Several trains, including the Dhanbad-Alappuzha Express and Jabalpur-Madurai Superfast Special, were rerouted as repair work commenced at the site.
What Led to the Derailment?
Southern Railway General Manager RN Singh explained that the Mysuru-Darbhanga Express was not intended to enter the loop line, where the goods train was stationed. Despite having a green signal for the main line, the passenger train mistakenly entered the loop line and rear-ended the goods train, causing the derailment.
“The passenger train had a clear signal for the main line but entered the loop line, where it collided with the stationary goods train. The derailment impacted 12 coaches,” Singh said, noting that while the locomotive was derailed, the driver and loco pilot were unharmed. Investigations are underway to determine the exact cause of the mishap.
#WATCH | Tamil Nadu: R.N. Singh, General Manager of Southern Railway, says, "This train was going towards Gudur and further to Andhra Pradesh…While going towards Gudur at this station a goods train was stabled at the loop line and this was given precedence. This was supposed to… https://t.co/hZCKT3Tj5c pic.twitter.com/eb6lHH1m9J
— ANI (@ANI) October 11, 2024
How Fatalities Were Avoided
Despite the severity of the accident, no fatalities occurred, largely due to the use of advanced Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches on the Bagmati Express. These modern coaches, which have been widely adopted by Indian Railways in recent years, are designed with enhanced safety features, including an anti-climbing arrangement and advanced air suspension systems. These technological advancements helped reduce the risk of severe injuries or fatalities.
LHB coaches have been a significant part of Indian Railways’ modernization efforts, with over 31,000 manufactured in the past nine years. Produced at key facilities in Kapurthala, Chennai, and Rai Bareli, these coaches are gradually replacing older designs to improve overall safety and efficiency.
Political Fallout
Following the accident, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took to social media to criticize the government. He drew comparisons between this incident and the Balasore tragedy in June 2023, where 290 lives were lost, accusing the government of not learning from past mistakes. “How many more families must be destroyed before this government wakes up?” Gandhi questioned.
The investigation into the cause of the Tamil Nadu accident continues, with railway authorities vowing to implement further safety measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
