Narrow escape for 40 passengers as Bengaluru-bound train derails in Vellore

Chennai: It was a narrow escape for more than 40 passengers of the Bengaluru-bound Kanyakumari-Bangalore City Express after four of its coaches derailed in Vellore district, around 170 km from Chennai, 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. [caption id=“attachment_2613558” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. AP[/caption] 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