Seven empty railway coaches derail near Tirupattur in Tamil Nadu
The unattended coaches travelled six kilometres without an engine before derailing, disrupting services on the Bengaluru-Chennai route.
Seven empty railway coaches rolled away from the Jolarpettai Junction yard in Tamil Nadu's Tirupattur district and derailed near Thamaleri Muthur, according to reports by Hindustan Times and The News Mill. The coaches travelled nearly six kilometres without an engine before the incident occurred.
The coaches were stationed at a maintenance yard for repair work. Preliminary information suggests they had been pushed by an engine but were allegedly not secured or controlled by railway staff, causing them to roll away on their own.
A major accident was reportedly averted after a gatekeeper heard the noise of the coaches and alerted authorities. Railway officials then ordered trains approaching Jolarpettai from Bengaluru to stop to prevent a collision.
Railway personnel used gas-cutting equipment and JCB machinery to separate and remove the coaches from the main track. The derailment caused delays for several trains on the Bengaluru-Chennai route and disrupted passenger movement.
Jolarpettai Railway Junction is a significant hub with 16 tracks and is known for having the second-largest railway yard in Asia. The incident has led to calls from the public for an inquiry into safety procedures and potential negligence at the yard.