CHENNAI: The swift action by the Tiruvallur police helped evacuate the victims from the mangled remains of the express train, resulting in a casualty-free accident.
The striking force police team of the superintendent of police broke open the H-1, one of the air-conditioned compartments, and rescued at least 10 passengers trapped inside. Superintendent of Police (SP) Srinivasa Perumal and five striking force police personnel suffered minor injuries while rescuing the victims.
Police said most of the trapped victims were travelling in the H-1, A-1, B-1, B-2, B-3, and B-4 compartments – first-class, second-class, and third-class air-conditioned coaches, and seven other compartments.The police team also climbed onto the damaged compartments and checked all the bathrooms to see if anyone was trapped inside.
After receiving the alert message around 8.32 pm on Friday, SP Srinivasa Perumal told TOI, “I informed the ‘108’ ambulance and kept at least 20 ambulances readily parked at the RMK engineering college premises, which is near the accident spot.”
He added that they were informed there were about 1,362 passengers, apart from the crew, police personnel, and pantry staff, on the Mysuru-Dharbhanga Bagmati Express train, number 12578, which left Chennai Central railway station around 7.20 pm.
3 marriage halls were ready for injured
The officer said three marriage halls, including SAK and Lakshmi, were kept ready. “The RMK college management organised at least 500 food packets, and local traders provided us with water bottles and biscuits, even before I arrived at the accident spot. Apart from this, at least 15 buses, including the college buses, were arranged to transport the train passengers.”
North Zone inspector-general of police Asra Garg and senior police officers visited the spot and monitored the rescue operation. By the time the railway officials, railway protection force personnel, and Tamil Nadu disaster rescue force personnel rushed to the spot, they had evacuated the passengers.
The victims were shifted to the govt hospital in Ponneri and the primary health centre (PHC) in Kavarapet in 14 ambulances, with six other ambulances kept on standby, police said. Three of the injured passengers were shifted to the Government Stanley Hospital for treatment.
“The evacuation was completed by 4.30 am on Saturday, and the victims were sent to the Chennai Central Railway Station, where they boarded another train and headed to Dharbhanga,” said an investigation officer.
However, at least 52 passengers opted to return to Bengaluru and Mysuru for personal reasons, and they were also dropped at the Chennai Central Railway Station, while the remaining passengers continued their journey to their destination.
Korukkupet railway police register case in Kavarapettai train accident
The Korukkupet govt railway police have registered a case under four sections in connection with the Kavarapet train accident. Initial inquiries revealed that the express train, which was proceeding north on the main line, diverted towards the loop line, where the goods train was stationed for a couple of days.
While the railway officials are probing the cause of the train accident, the preliminary investigation revealed that the Bagmati Express train was travelling at a speed of 90 km/hr when it collided with the rear side of the stationed goods train.
Tamil Nadu Police DGP Shankar Jiwal and other officers appreciated the swift action by the Tiruvallur police in rescuing the victims. Further investigations are ongoing.