Seven people were injured when the locomotive of the Chennai-Trivandrum Mail collided with an Electrical Multiple Unit (EMU) and derailed at the Pattabhiram railway station in the evening on 5 May.
No casualties were reported while the injured were taken to a government hospital in Avadi.
Quoting official sources, The Hindu reported that the driver of the locomotive of the Mail (train no 12623), passed a ‘danger’ signal and hit the EMU that was crossing multiple lines, including the main line track while on its way to Pattabhiram Military Siding station.
There were not many passengers in the EMU coaches that were hit by the Mail. The driver of the Mail applied the brakes in an attempt to slow down the train and hence the damage was minimised.T Sadagopan, Witness
A press release by the railways stated that all four lines between Chennai Central and Tiruvallur were suspended and senior Railway Officers rushed to the spot to oversee relief and rescue operations. One line was restored by 10:30 pm while the others were restored later.
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