Eight people were injured when the locomotive of the Chennai–Trivandrum Mail collided with an Electrical Multiple Unit and then derailed at Pattabhiram railway station on Thursday evening.

According to official sources, the driver of the locomotive of the Mail (train no. 12623), passed a signal that was in ‘danger’ (red) and hit the EMU that was crossing multiple lines, including the main line track while on its way to Pattabhiram Military Siding station.

On adjacent tracks

However, the trains were travelling on adjacent lines and not on the same line, officials said.

The injured were initially rushed in 108 ambulances to military hospitals in Avadi and later referred to the Railway Hospital in Perambur. They had sustained fractures and other injuries on their hands and legs. The accident took place at 8.15 p.m., officials said.

The locomotive, a luggage-cum-brake-van and a general compartment of the Mail got derailed. Three compartments of the EMU were severely damaged, officials said, adding that the guard of the EMU had a miraculous escape.

“There were not many passengers in the EMU coaches that were hit by the Mail. The driver of Mail applied the brakes in an attempt to slow down the train and hence the damage was minimised,” said T. Sadagopan of Pattabhiram.

Traffic on the sector — both main line as well as suburban services between Moore Market Complex to Tiruttani were cancelled. Similarly, trains bound for Chennai Central and MMC were halted at Pattabhiram and other stations. After the problem was rectified, the line was declared fit for traffic at 10 p.m.

Commuters stranded

Several thousand passengers were stranded as a result, on both directions.

K. Parthiban, who had come to the city to visit Marina Beach with his family, said he depended only on suburban trains as there were no direct bus services to his house.

Anxious passengers also surrounded southern railway staff and personnel of Railway Protection Force, including inspector N. Alagarsamy in an attempt to know the status of train services.

Trains delayed

According to V. Umashankar, Station Manager, Chennai Central, about 10 long distance trains were delayed.

The first train to leave after services were restored was the Chennai – Mangaluru mail at 10.25 p.m., after a delay of nearly two hours.

Railway officials had also opened a helpline number 2533 0714 at Central station.