Close shave for passengers as train derails near Vellore

Chennai, Feb 5: It was a narrow escape for the passengers of the Bengaluru-bound Kanyakumari-Bangalore City Express after four of its coaches derailed in Vellore district, around 170 km from here, the Southern Railway said.

There were conflicting reports about the number of passengers injured in the accident, with some placing the number at 15, while others 40.

The Southern Railway in a statement said the coaches derailed at 4.15 a.m. between Somanayakkanpatti and Patchur of the Bangalore Railway Division.

No lives were lost in the accident.

According to railways, buses were arranged to transport passengers to Bengaluru and senior officials have reached the accident spot.

Owing to the accident the Southern Railway has cancelled 11 trains between Chennai-Bengaluru, Jolarpettai-Bengaluru and Arakonam-Bengaluru.

The Chennai-Mysore Shadabdi Express for Friday has been partially cancelled between Jolarpettai and Mysore.

Similarly, the Mysore-Chennai Shadabdi Express has been partially cancelled between Mysore and Jolarpettai.

Train number 16614 between Coimbatore-Rajkot has been diverted via Tirupattur, Jolarpettai, Katpadi and Renigunta.

For Passengers' assistance, the following help line numbers are provided by the Southern Railway:

Madurai: 0452-2308250

Salem: 0427-2431947

Trichur: 0487-2430060

Thiruvananthapuram: 0471-2320012

Palakkad: 0491-2555231 / 0491-2556198

Bangalore: 080-22156553, 080-22156554, 080-22873103

Bangalore Cantonment: 080-23339162

Krishnarajapuram: 080-25650308

IANS