Mysore Darbhanga Express Collision: The Mysuru-Darbhanga Bagmati Express (train no. 12578) derailed after colliding with a stalled goods train at Kavaraippettai railway station near Chennai on Friday evening, injuring at least 19 passengers.

Officials said that no deaths were reported and those injured were rushed to nearby hospitals and that three of them were critical.

The accident, which caused massive damage to both trains, took place at 8.30 pm on the Chennai-Gudur route between Ponneri and Kavaraippettai stations. Some trains, including the Dhanbad-Alappuzha Express and the Jabalpur-Madurai Superfast Special train, were diverted following the accident.

Mysore-Darbhanga Express Collision: What Caused The Tamil Nadu Train Accident?

According to the General Manager of Southern Railways RN Singh, the passenger train should not have entered the curve where a goods train had stopped. After leaving Chennai, the driver correctly followed the signals of the Mysuru-Darbhanga Express, he added.

He further said that despite having a green signal for the main line, the train entered the loop line and hit the goods train from behind, causing the derailment of its 12 coaches and injuries of passengers.

He added that despite the green signal for the main line, the train entered the curve and collided with the goods train from behind, leading to the derailment of its 12 coaches.

“The passenger train was supposed to pass via the main line…But despite having signals for the main line the train entered the loop line. It hit the goods train from behind and because of this engine derailed. The pilot and loco pilot are hale and hearty. Fortunately, there was no death. The injured were immediately moved to the nearby hospital,” he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

#WATCH | Tamil Nadu: R.N. Singh, General Manager of Southern Railway, says, "This train was going towards Gudur and further to Andhra Pradesh…While going towards Gudur at this station a goods train was stabled at the loop line and this was given precedence. This was supposed to… https://t.co/hZCKT3Tj5c pic.twitter.com/eb6lHH1m9J

— ANI (@ANI) October 11, 2024

He added that the cause of the accident is being investigated.

What Prevented the Deaths?

Following the train accident, railway authorities confirmed that 19 passengers on board were injured, but no deaths were reported.

The Darbhanga-bound Bagmati Express was reportedly equipped with Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches, a technologically advanced system designed to improve the safety, comfort and efficiency of rail transport. It is believed that deaths were avoided due to the high quality of the train’s coaches.

Unlike conventional Integral Coach Factory (ICF) coaches, LHB coaches have several cutting-edge features, including an anti-rise device, air suspension (secondary) with a fault indication system and a less corrosive outer skin.

Indian Railways has manufactured over 31,000 LHB coaches in the last nine years, taking a significant step forward towards modernisation, according to a report published in November 2023.

These coaches are currently manufactured at three major manufacturing plants – Rail Coach Factory (RCF-Kapurthala), Integral Coach Factory (ICF-Chennai) and Modern Coach Factory (MCF-Rai Bareli), according to reports.

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