A passenger train collided with a stationary goods train in Kavarapettai, Tamil Nadu, on Friday night, injuring at least 19 people. Fortunately, there were no fatalities, and officials confirmed that none of the injuries were life-threatening.
The incident occurred around 8:30 pm when the Bagmati Express, which was travelling from Mysuru in Karnataka to Darbhanga in Bihar, derailed after hitting the goods train. At least 12 of its coaches went off the tracks as a result of the collision. Kavarapettai is located approximately 40 kilometres from Chennai.
According to railway officials, the express train inadvertently entered a loop line where the freight service was parked, an error that is now under investigation. Despite receiving a green signal to proceed on the mainline, the train experienced a heavy jerk before veering onto the loop line at a speed of 75 km/h and rear-ending the stationary goods train.
A Southern Railways official described the events, stating, “While entering the Kavarapettai station, the train crew experienced a heavy jerk and instead of going into the main line as per the signal given, the train entered into a loop line and struck a goods train stationed there.”
All passengers on board, estimated to be around 1,360, were evacuated successfully following a prompt rescue operation. T Prabhushankar, the District Collector of Tiruvallur, highlighted the immediate response after receiving the incident report. “We reached the spot immediately. Chief Minister MK Stalin instructed us to ensure that the rescue operation proceeds without delay,” he said.
Of the 19 injured, four sustained severe injuries and were transported to local hospitals, where they are reported to be stable.
In the wake of the accident, Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin visited the injured passengers at the Government Stanley Medical College Hospital in Chennai. The incident has disrupted train services in the area, leading to diversions and rerouting of several trains. The Railways has set up helpline numbers to assist affected passengers.
This accident bears striking similarities to the tragic 2023 Balasore crash, where the Coromandel Express also entered a loop line and collided with a goods train, leading to a subsequent collision with another passenger train. That incident resulted in 296 fatalities and was one of the deadliest train accidents in India’s history.
As investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the Kavarapettai collision, officials are emphasising the importance of ensuring safety measures to prevent such occurrences in the future.