12 injured as Madurai-Kollam train derails

Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, Mar 20: Twelve people were injured when few coaches of the Madurai-Kollam passenger train derailed between Valliyur and Aralvaimozhi, near here, early today.

However, no casualty was reported. A senior railway official told the sources that two coaches - S2 and S3 - were derailed, while the other coaches remained intact.

However, unofficial sources said at least seven coaches had derailed.

Divisional Railway Manager, Thiruvananthapuram, and senior railway officials from Madurai rushed to the spot to oversee rescue and relief operations. A medical van and brake down special left from Madurai to the mishap spot.

The Railway official said a detailed probe would also be ordered to ascertain the exact cause of the mishap. Refusing to confirm or deny sabotage, he said it would be known only after the probe.

For more information, the public could contact the officials at 0452-2308250, 044-25024547 and 0471-2320012.

Following the derailment, the Southern Railway announced that the Nagercoil-Mumbai Express would be diverted via Thiruvananthapuram, Quilon, Shoranur, Pothanur, and Jolarpettai.

UNI