At least 12 dead, 60 injured as Bangalore-Ernakulam Express derails near Hosur in Tamil Nadu

At least 12 passengers were killed and more than 60 injured, several critically, when 9 bogies of the Bangalore-Ernakulam Inter City Express derailed after a boulder fell on the track near Anekal on the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border on Friday.

Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy, quoting railway officials, told reporters 34 of the injured, who have been admitted to various hospitals near Bengaluru, are in critical condition. Most of the victims were from Kerala, he said.

The train had left Bengaluru at 6:15am and derailed at 7:35am between Anekal Road and Hosur on Bangalore City-Salem Section, about 45 km from Bengaluru, railway officials said.

The accident occurred after the train hit a boulder that had fallen on the track, tweeted Union railway minister Suresh Prabhu.

“I am personally monitoring it and in touch with State and local administration [sic],” Prabhu posted on Twitter.Suresh Prabhu added he has directed all senior officers to rush to the spot with help. He said an inquiry has also been ordered to fix responsibility and for corrective action to prevent such unfortunate accidents adding he is monitoring “action” regularly.

“I am on way to Bangalore to visit accident site to help all stranded. All possible help will be rendered to families affected,” Prabhu said.

The railway minister said he will visit the accident site and personally monitor the rescue operation.

“I am on way to Bangalore to visit accident site to help all stranded. All possible help will be rendered to families affected,” he added.

Union law minister Sadanand Gowda, who reached the accident site near the border of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, said chairman of the Railway Board has been directed to evacuate all stranded passengers and that medical help has also been rushed to the spot.

“Rescue and relief operations are still underway. All rescue teams are here, including police, medical and the railways. All measures have been taken to rescue the trapped persons,” Karnataka home minister KJ George told reporters.

Karnataka health minister UT Khader said medical teams from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have been rushed to the site.

He said according to information available with state authorities more than 50 people have been injured in the accident.
Police and railway officials said efforts were being made to reach those trapped inside the derailed bogies. The injured have been rushed to hospitals in nearby Hosur and Bengaluru, they said.

Several passengers have been trapped in the coaches mangled due to the impact of derailment and are being pulled out. Rescuers had to use gas cutters to cut open the toppled coaches of the train to evacuate passengers trapped inside, said Sivanna, an eyewitness