Three hurt as express train derails at Tirunelveli junction

The accident happened in the morning when Nellai Express reached Tirunelveli from Chennai. The guard driver who was reversing the train to be taken to bit line for maintenance after the passengers alighted was not able to stop the train at the desired place. The express train crashed the wooden barricade at the end of the line and the last compartment derailed in the impact. Three workers Pichumani, Isakkimuthu and Prakash, who were waiting for carrying out maintenance work sustained injuries. They were rushed to the Railway Hospital. Part of rail and concrete pillars on the track have also been damaged in the accident. 

Tirunelveli Station Master Kalyani and other officials carried out an investigation on the spot. Engineers rushed there to carry out the repair works on a war footing. However, train services have not been affected as the mishap took place on the bit line. Meanwhile at Kumbakkonam around 10.45 am it was reported that the engine and two coaches of Train No: 56034 Mannargudi-Mayiladuturai Passenger train had derailed between Nannilam and Peralam Junction. Divisional Railway Manager AK Agarwal, Senior Divisional Safety Officer S Kandasamy and other senior officers and staff left for the spot. Once the relief train reached the next block section, the accident was declared as mock drill, a railway release said. The drill was conducted as a routine measure to check the alertness of the officers and staff and to upkeep confidence of the public for the safe travel in trains. It was found to be satisfactory, the release added.