The Yercaud Express train travelling from Chennai to Erode reportedly met with a mishap on Sunday night in Arakkonam. The train was just entering the Arakkonam railway station when the engine and three compartments allegedly derailed.
There was no loss to life or injuries as the train's speed had considerably decreased while entering the station. Reports suggest that the train derailed because of a fracture in the tracks, that resulted in a gap. The pilot of the train had reportedly hit the break just in time to avoid any further damage. A major accident was allegedly prevented because of the considerable reduction in speed.
Tamil Nadu's Higher Education Minister KP Anbazhagan was reportedly in the train when it derailed. The railway police have launched an investigation into the matter.
This is not the first time that Tamil Nadu has seen such cases of derailment. In May last year, eight people were injured after the Chennai-Trivandrun Mail derailed and collided with an Electrical Multiple Unit at Pattabhiram railway station. It was then reported that a signalling failure could have led to the accident.
In February 2016, nine coaches of the Bangalore-Kanyakumari Island Express derailed near Natrampalli. The accident occurred about 90km from Vellore. Passengers were rescued but 14 persons sustained injuries and were treated at the Government hospital.