Chennai-Mangalore Express mishap: CM Jayalalithaa orders compensation

Chennai: Chief minister J. Jayalalithaa on Friday directed the Cuddalore district administration to admit the injured passengers at nearby government hospitals.

The AIADMK leader announced a compensation of Rs 50,000 for those with severe injuries and Rs 25,000 to persons with simple injuries.

In a statement, she expressed regret over the mishap and wished speedy recovery of the injured.

She said four persons were being treated as in-patients at Vriddhachalam and directed Cuddalore district administration to provide required medical and transportation facilities for the injured.

The help-line desk at the Egmore station was flooded with calls from relatives and friends of the passengers right from morning till the afternoon after the news of the Chennai-Mangalore derailment news flashed on  TV screens.  

Over 600 calls were received from 6 am till 12 in the noon, a railway official at the Egmore station said.

“I was informed by my relative regarding the accident at 4 am after which I was trying to reach my son in the mobile. Since his phone was out of range I was tensed and I rushed to the Egmore station,” said S. Hemalatha, whose son was on his way to Mangalore. I later confirmed from  Cuddalore that he was safe and I felt relieved”, she added.

Later on Friday night, train services on Villupuram-Vriddhachalam chord line section were restored, a Southern railway press release said in Tiruchy.

The Chennai Egmore-Rameswaram Sethu express was the first to pass through the section after the restoration work.