Kollam-bound train jumps off rails

By Our Staff Reporter

COIMBATORE, MAY 31. Two bogies of the Coimbatore-Kollam Express, (train number 6781) derailed on the metre gauge track between Coimbatore junction and Podanur on Thursday. Luckily, no one was injured.

Passengers had a narrow escape as the train derailed a few hundred feet away from the Noyyal bridge, within a few minutes of its departure from Coimbatore. If the train had derailed on the bridge, the impact could have been severe, railway officials said.

The train, which was proceeding at a speed of about 10 to 20 kmph owing to track maintenance work, derailed while taking a curve.

About 80 stranded passengers were transported to Podanur on trains running on the broad gauge track alongside by officials who supervised the arrangements. Doctors and paramedical staff from Podanur Railway Hospital arrived to offer first aid.

The Madurai-Coimbatore Fast Passenger (No. 775) on the meter gauge section was terminated at Podanur, and passengers transported to Coimbatore on the Thiruvananthapuram-Bilaspur Express, on the broad gauge track. Passengers of the Coimbatore- Kollam Express were transported to Podanur junction, and from there to Kollam on the Madurai-Coimbatore Fast Passenger (No. 775). Traffic was restored and the derailed bogies were re-railed within a few hours.

Talking to The Hindu, Mr. Amarnath, Divisional Railway Manager, said the nature of derailment was being assessed and the reasons could be known only after an inquiry.

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Section  : National
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