One passenger died on the spot, six grievously injured and 27 suffered minor injuries when eleven bogies of the Muzaffarpur-Yesvantpur weekly express train via Chennai Central derailed near Sitheri early morning.
The train No 15228 left Chennai Central at 2.15 a.m. and derailed near Sitheri in the Arakkonam-Katpadi section nearly 45 km from Chennai at around 5.50 a.m. The injured have been admitted to the nearest hospital, according to Southern Railway (SR).
The exact cause of the accident was not known. Railway officials are conducting preliminary investigation into the cause of the accident.
Incidentally, in September 2011, ten people were killed when a suburban train rammed a stationary passenger train at a point between Melpakkam and the Sitheri railway station near Arakkonam in Vellore district.
The Railways has made arrangements to move stranded passengers to Katpadi and also to Bangalore via Renigunta, said sources in SR.
Due to today’s accident, Southern Railway has made a number of changes in the pattern of train services.
Eight trains, including the Chennai Central-Coimbatore Kovai Express and Chennai-Bangalore Brindavan Express, have been cancelled.
Three trains have been partially cancelled and four trains have been diverted.
The line to Chennai has been restored and train services resumed .
The SR has set up a helpline at 044-25357398/25330823 and the number to reach at the accident spot is 9244919572.