Kochi: Twelve coaches of the Thiruvananthapuram-Mangaluru Express (Train no. 16347) derailed near Karukutty station at 2.55am on Sunday. No injuries or casualties were reported. However, train traffic on both the tracks have been severely affected, with railway authorities cancelling and diverting many trains, including express services.
Authorities have launched helplines: 0471-2320012 and 9746769960. Karukutty is situated about 30 kilometres away from Ernakulam.
"The cause of the accident has to be investigated. The tracks have been damaged for about 200 metres. Passengers panicked as the incident happened in the night hours. However, we managed to launch rescue operations at the earliest," said a senior railway official attached to the Thiruvananthapuram railway division.
The authorities arranged several special passenger trains between Ernakulam Junction and Thiruvananthapuram Central from 6am onwards at frequent intervals for the affected passengers. Two special trains will also run later in the day, said Thiruvananthapuram railway authorities.
Twenty buses were arranged to take the passengers, which included patients from Regional Cancer Centre and Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology - both situated in Thiruvananthapuram, to the nearet major stations Chalakudy and Ernakulam Junction.
Anjana George, a Times Group employee who was travelling in the ladies coach of the train said the situation was horrible. "It was sheer luck that the coaches didn't overturn. Since there was no instruction and the accident area was more like a deserted place, the ladies sat inside the compartment for a long time. Later, we walked together to the Karukutty station. By 5am, I boarded a special bus to Ernakulam, that was arranged by the railways," she said.
The first special train left from Ernakulam Junction to Thiruvananthapuram Central at 7.50am. Passengers who were stranded following the accident were provided with breakfast and another special train to Mangaluru from Chalakudy left at 7.30am, informed Thiruvananthapuram railway division authorities.
Another train to Thiruvananthapuram Central via Kottayam will leave at 10 am
Five long distance trains have been diverted via Tirunelveli-Erode route. The trains are: Thiruvananthapuram-Mumbai CST (16382), Kanyakumari-Bangalore (16525), Alappuzha-Dhanbad (13353), Thiruvananthapuram-Gorakhpur Raptisagar (12512) and Thiruvananthapuram-Hyderabad Sabari Express (17229).
"We have also arranged automatic refund for e-ticket holders of cancelled trains. The refund information will be sent via SMS to the passengers. We have also arranged special train services to Thiruvananthapuram side and Mangaluru side," the official added.
Authorities have launched helplines: 0471-2320012 and 9746769960. Karukutty is situated about 30 kilometres away from Ernakulam.
"The cause of the accident has to be investigated. The tracks have been damaged for about 200 metres. Passengers panicked as the incident happened in the night hours. However, we managed to launch rescue operations at the earliest," said a senior railway official attached to the Thiruvananthapuram railway division.
The authorities arranged several special passenger trains between Ernakulam Junction and Thiruvananthapuram Central from 6am onwards at frequent intervals for the affected passengers. Two special trains will also run later in the day, said Thiruvananthapuram railway authorities.
Twenty buses were arranged to take the passengers, which included patients from Regional Cancer Centre and Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology - both situated in Thiruvananthapuram, to the nearet major stations Chalakudy and Ernakulam Junction.
Anjana George, a Times Group employee who was travelling in the ladies coach of the train said the situation was horrible. "It was sheer luck that the coaches didn't overturn. Since there was no instruction and the accident area was more like a deserted place, the ladies sat inside the compartment for a long time. Later, we walked together to the Karukutty station. By 5am, I boarded a special bus to Ernakulam, that was arranged by the railways," she said.
The first special train left from Ernakulam Junction to Thiruvananthapuram Central at 7.50am. Passengers who were stranded following the accident were provided with breakfast and another special train to Mangaluru from Chalakudy left at 7.30am, informed Thiruvananthapuram railway division authorities.
Another train to Thiruvananthapuram Central via Kottayam will leave at 10 am
Five long distance trains have been diverted via Tirunelveli-Erode route. The trains are: Thiruvananthapuram-Mumbai CST (16382), Kanyakumari-Bangalore (16525), Alappuzha-Dhanbad (13353), Thiruvananthapuram-Gorakhpur Raptisagar (12512) and Thiruvananthapuram-Hyderabad Sabari Express (17229).
"We have also arranged automatic refund for e-ticket holders of cancelled trains. The refund information will be sent via SMS to the passengers. We have also arranged special train services to Thiruvananthapuram side and Mangaluru side," the official added.