RailEnquiry

Three empty wagons of a 58-wagon goods train proceeding from Salem side to Chennai Harbour derailed between Latheri and Kavanur stations near Katpadi in the early hours of Monday.Consequent to the derailment, several trains proceeding towards Chennai were detained at wayside stations. They suffered a delay ranging from one to four hours. The railway authorities and field staff reached the spot at 2 a.m. and commenced the work on removing the derailed wagons.S. Anantharaman, Divisional Railway Manager, Chennai Division, supervised the relief operations. He told TheHindu that the Chennai-Jolarpet line was first cleared at about 2.20 a.m., and the trains in both directions were operated via this single line. By 6.30 a.m., the other line was also cleared and normal traffic on both the lines was restored soon after.The cause of the accident was under investigation, he said.Irate commuters who waited in vain since early morning at the Walaja Road Railway Station to board Chennai-bound trains blocked the Vellore Cantonment-Chennai Beach Mainline Electrical Multiple Unit train protesting against the delay in the arrival of trains. They dispersed only after police personnel from the Ranipet police station rushed to the spot and explained to them that the derailment of trains near Kavanur was the cause of the delay.