Train accident in Tamil Nadu, 15 reported killed

TNN & Agencies | Sep 13, 2011, 11.48PM IST

CHENNAI: At least 15 people have been reported killed and more than 70 injured when a passenger train from Chennai rammed into a stationary train near Sitheri railway station close to Arakkonam, about 75 km from here, late on Tuesday night, police said.

According to TV reports three bogies have derailed and several passengers are still stuck inside the bogies.

Gas cutters are being used to open the doors and rescue the trapped passengers.

Train No. 187 Arakkonam-Vellore passenger was waiting for signal near Sitheri Station when the Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) running between Chennai Beach and Vellore rammed into it from behind at around 9.40 pm, they said.

Earlier, IG North Zone Syleendra Babu confirmed seven persons were dead and more than 70 injured in the collision.

He said the injured have been rushed to local hospitals. Several passengers have been trapped inside two bogies which derailed following the collision, railway police said.

Two teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been rushed to the accident site.

However, rescue and relief efforts were hit by heavy rains in the area.

Train traffic on the busy Chennai-Katpadi section has been disrupted and several trains leaving Chennai Central affected.

In another tragic accident, a moving passenger train has collided with a stationary train at Arakkonam station near Chennai on Tuesday night.