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As many as 17 people were injured when two slow-moving trains collided at Kacheguda Railway Station in Hyderabad on Monday, 11 November, South Central Railway officials said.
The injured were rushed to Osmania General Hospital. Atleast nine of the injured have been discharged, while the remaining are still availing of treatment. The condition of one person is critical, the officials said, according to The News Minute.
The condition of the loco pilot, L Chandrasekhar, who was injured in the collision, is also critical, doctors said on Tuesday, according to The News Minute. He had been admitted to Care Hospital, Nampally.
Train Overshot Signal
The accident occurred as the MMTS train apparently overshot the signal, officials said.
The Lingampalli-Falaknuma multi-modal transport system (MMTS) and the Kurnool-Secunderabad Hundry Intercity Express (17028) collided collided, officials had said.
Rs 5,000 ex-gratia will be disbursed to the passengers with minor injuries and Rs 25,000 to passengers with grave injuries.
Senior officials of the SCR, along with medical and accident relief vans, undertook relief and restoration work, a statement by officials had said.
Following the accident, one train was cancelled and another was diverted while five more were partially cancelled.
Padmavathy, a woman passenger of the MMTS, said the commuters felt a big jolt as the train was nearing Kacheguda station.
Loco Pilot in Critical Condition
Chandrasekhar has been put on the ventilator and he has suffered crush injuries, has polytrauma, and sustained fractured ribs, besides injuring his kidney.
“He is in hemorrhagic shock for which we are giving him continuous renal replacement therapy. Blood flow in both his legs is low (lower limb ischemia neuro quora neurovascular bundle injury) – for this, we have given him vascular surgery. The treatment is going on, but his condition is critical.”Doctors, Care Hospital
The doctors also said that Chandrasekhar is suffering internal bleeding.
“His urine output has lowered. Probably due to suffocation and shock, he is in a state of acute tubular necrosis condition,” doctors said.
Rescued After 8-Hour Operation
Chandrashekhar had been rescued after a gruelling, nearly eight-hour long operation by the NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) and accident relief team of the South Central Railway, The News Minute reported.
He had been trapped in his badly mangled cabin since the time of the collision.
The rescue team had to use electric cutters instead of gas cutters to avoid the cabin catching fire. The operation also involved removing four layers of heavy metal to safely pull out the loco pilot, The News Minute reported.
“During the entire operation, Chandrasekhar cooperated very well. He used to tell if he felt any pain. This communication helped us precisely cut the metals and not harm him unintentionally. We gave him glucose water every 30 minutes, supplied oxygen and gave saline drip to keep him hydrated.”NDRF Assistant Commandant J Senthil Kumar
CCTV Footage Shows Impact of Collision
CCTV footage showing the moment of impact between the two trains has now emerged, reported The News Minute.
The video shows passengers disembarking as the two trains collide while moving on the same track in different directions.
An inquiry into the accident has been ordered by the Commission of Railway Safety.
High-Level Inquiry to Be Held
Commissioner of Railway Safety, Southern Central Circle Secunderabad Ram Kripal will conduct the inquiry, reported ANI.
Commenting on the mishap, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal tweeted saying that “immediate instructions have been given to the authorities for assistance and monitoring.”
(With inputs from PTI and The News Minute.)
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