A special relief train carrying passengers affected by the Bagmati Superfast Express collision arrived in Darbhanga early Monday morning. The train provided much-needed assistance to those impacted by the October 11 accident near Kavaraipettai railway station in Tamil Nadu, where the Bagmati Express, travelling from Mysore to Darbhanga, collided with a freight train. Although several passengers sustained injuries, there were no fatalities.
Passengers recall the incident
The relief train, which departed from Chennai Central on Saturday, brought immense relief to the stranded passengers. Upon reaching Darbhanga, many shared their experiences of the collision. Survivors expressed gratitude for their safety and praised the support provided by local authorities, railway officials, and volunteers.
Sunil Kumar, one of the injured passengers, recalled the terrifying moment of impact. “I was having dinner and resting when I suddenly fell from my seat due to a violent jolt. I lost consciousness,” he recounted. “When I woke up, I was bleeding from my head and feet.” He also described the shocking scene of a coach stacked atop another, having lost all his belongings.
Sono Devi, another survivor, shared how her coach derailed but no one inside was injured. “We were fortunate,” she said. “The noise was deafening, and the confusion was overwhelming, but we escaped unharmed.”
Relief and rescue operations
Injured passengers were treated at a hospital in Chennai, while others were sent to Darbhanga by a special train. Rescue efforts were led by senior railway officials, fire departments, and police. While no lives were lost, many passengers remain in shock and have reported missing belongings. The accident caused the derailment of 12 coaches, leading to disruptions in train services on the Chennai-Gudur section. Southern Railways has since announced cancellations and reroutes, and an investigation into the incident is underway.
(With inputs from ANI)
