No Lessons Learnt From Balasore Accident: Rahul Gandhi Slams Centre After Mysuru-Darbhanga Train Derailment Near Chennai

Chennai: Drawing parallels to the tragic Balasore accident that had claimed about 300 lives, Leader of Opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Saturday criticized the Centre over Mysuru-Darbhanga train accident stating that the BJP government had not learnt from the past incidents.

“The Mysuru-Darbhanga train accident mirrors the horrific Balasore accident—a passenger train colliding with a stationary goods train. Despite many lives lost in numerous accidents, no lessons are learned. Accountability starts at the top. How many more families must be destroyed before this government wakes up?” the MP wrote on X.

Around 19 passengers suffered injuries after the Mysuru-Darbhanga Bagmati Express (Train No. 12578) collided with a stationary goods train at Kavaraippettai railway station near Chennai around 8.30pm on Friday. At least 12 coaches of the passenger train derailed on the Chennai-Gudur section, between Ponneri and Kavaraippettai stations.

What led to the derailment?

The train was not supposed to stop at Kavaraippettai and was meant to pass through the station, RN Singh, general manager of Southern Railways, told the Hindustan Times. After departing from Chennai, the signals for the Mysuru-Darbhanga Express were correctly followed by the driver, the official claimed. But, instead of taking the main line, the train mistakenly switched to the loop line. The official claimed that this led to the collision with goods train.

“While entering the Kavarapettai station, the train crew experienced a heavy jerk and instead of going into the main line as per the signal given, the train running at a speed of 75 kmph entered into a loop line. It hit a goods train stationed on the loop line from behind,”another official told the Hindustan Times.

Special train for the stranded passengers

Early on Saturday, a special train carrying stranded passengers of the Mysuru-Darbhanga Bagmati Express departed from Dr MGR Chennai Central railway station. According to reports, the rescue train left the station around 4:45am. The railway officials said stranded passengers were provided with food and water. The railways has also set up a help desk at Chennai Central Railway Station to assist the affected passengers. Restoration work was underway till the time of filing of the report.

List of trains cancelled after Mysuru-Darbhanga Bagmati Express accident

Train services were disrupted after the accident. Officials confirmed that the following two trains were cancelled:

• Train No. 12077 Dr MGR Chennai Central – Vijayawada Jan Shatabdi Express
• Train No. 12078 Vijayawada – Dr MGR Chennai Central Jan Shatabdi Express.

Several trains were diverted on Friday night.