Train accident in Tamil Nadu: 10 killed, 85 injured

Chennai: In the third major rail mishap in a span of two months, at least ten persons were killed and 85 others injured when a passenger train rammed into a stationary train near Arakkonam, about 75 km from here, derailing five coaches last night.

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"Till now eight bodies have been identified and injured have been rushed to nearby hospitals," IG Railway Police Sunil Kumar, who is at the accident spot, told PTI.
Police said 15 of those injured were being brought to Chennai for treatment and pitched dark conditions coupled with heavy rains hampered the relief work.

The mishap occurred when the speeding Chennai-Vellore Cantonment Mainline Electrical Multiple Unit (MEMU) rammed into the rear of the Arakkonam-Katpadi passenger which was waiting for signal at the Chitheri station, at about 9.40 PM.
Teams of National Disaster Response Force were dispatched from here to quicken relief and rescue operations while senior railway officials rushed to the spot.

Rescue workers used gas cutters to help pull out the trapped passengers from the derailed bogies while two cranes were pressed into service to clear the tracks.
Source: India Syndicate/ PTI