In a major train mishap, over 20 people were feared killed and 80 others injured when an EMU (electric multiple unit) train from Chennai Beach to Vellore rammed into Arakkonam-Katpadi passenger train on Tuesday night.
The accident took place at Chitheri near Arakkonam about 90 km from Chennai. Police sources said signal failure had led to the mishap.
The Mangalore-bound Express train from Chennai was halted at Chitheri station, when the packed EMU train rammed into it, following a signal failure.
Police sources said at least three coaches of the EMU unit derailed in the impact of the collision. Initial reports said several people who were travelling in the first few coaches of the EMU were trapped as coaches jumped the rails and overturned.
A few trains, which were scheduled to leave Chennai Central, were rescheduled following the mishap.
Though the exact figure about the casualty is not known, sources from the spot told DC that more than 60 persons were feared trapped in the capsised bogies.
Railway sources said relief and medical teams from Chennai had been rushed to the spot.
Senior railway and police officers including the district authorities were also assisting in rescue operations along with the fire and rescue service personnel. Rain hampered relief work, said officials from the spot.
Reports also added that the motorman of the EMU and the guard of the passenger train were among those killed. In all, three coaches of the EMU train, including the motor unit where the motorman used to operate the train, capsised.
Reports from the spot said the casualty figure was likely to increase as derailed EMI coaches were packed to the capacity.