Chennai: EMU derails on elevated MRTS corridor, none hurt

Chennai: A beach bound EMU (electrical multiple unit) from Velachery derailed ahead of Lighthouse station on the elevated MRTS (mass rapid transit system) corridor on Monday afternoon. Fortunately, no passenger was injured as the train derailed while moving slowly towards a station.

According to railway sources, the second coach from the rear of train No: 41056 derailed a few dozen meters ahead of Lighthouse station around12.30pm, bringing rail traffic on the corridor to an abrupt halt.

Preliminary inquiries revealed that wheels of the ladies coach had jumped off the track. Passengers, who disembarked the derailed train and reached Lighthouse station by foot, complained that they heard some unusual noise from beneath the coach much ahead of the accident spot. A few passengers also claimed to have seen sparks and smoke emanating from beneath the coach.

While officials refused to confirm if the derailment was due to track degeneration or worn out wheels of the coach, Southern Railway general manager Vashishta Johri, who inspected the accident site along with divisional railway manager Anupam Sharma, said that a committee would be formed to ascertain the cause of the accident. The committee is likely to table the report on the accident in over a week.

SR officials, who appreciated senior motorman N.A. Poulouse for averting a major accident, also said the accident spot falls within a stretch where speed restriction (20kmph) was in force and hence the motorman had piloted the train at slow speed.

Suspended EMU service on the elevated MRTS corridor was restored at4.30pm, as was promised by the general manager. However, the first train from Velachery (after the accident) resumed at Velachery at 5pm. Trains did not run on schedule for the rest of the day.