38 injured in train accident near Chennai

All trains heading to Chennai Egmore from southern Tamil Nadu were detained at various

 stations in Tiruchi division, railway sources said.

At least 38 passengers, including 25 women, were injured

 when Train No. 16859 Chennai Egmore-Mangalore Central

 Express derailed near Poovanur railway station in Tiruchi

 Division around 2 a.m. on Friday. The State police ruled out

 possibility of a sabotage.

Preliminary reports suggested that six coaches, including the

 last vehicle, derailed. '108' ambulances were called to move

 the injured passengers to a government hospital in 

Vridhachalam. All trains heading to Chennai Egmore from 

southern Tamil Nadu were diverted via Thanjavur and Salem

 to Chennai and other destinations, railway sources said.

Senior railway officials rushed from a Chennai and Tiruchi

 and commenced restoration work. Cudalore Collector S.

 Suresh Kumar and Superintendent of Police Vijay Kumar

 also reached the spot to supervise relief and rescue 

operations. The derailment happened minutes after the train

 passed Poovanur railway station, some 8 kms north of 

Vridhachalam. But for the Madurai-Chennai Pandian 

Superfast Express, all other trains from southern destinations

 to Chennai Egmore were held up due to the derailment, the

 sources said.

Mr. Suresh Kumar said all the injured passengers were out of

 danger. Special buses were arranged to move the stranded 

passengers to Villuppuram, Tiruchi, Salem and other places.

 A team of revenue and transport officials were deployed to 

provide assistance to the passengers, he said.

The Madurai-Chennai Vaigai and Tiruchi-Chennai Pallavan

 Superfast Express trains would be run via Thanjavur and 

Kumbakonam, railway sources said and added that normal

 traffic would be restored by noon on Friday.

Most of the injured passengers were treated as out-patients

 at the Vridhachalam government hospital. The Mangalore

 Express proceeded to its destination after six coaches were

 detached from the train.

The Southern Railway has announced the following helplines

 for providing information on the derailment of the Chennai-

Mangalore Express:

Tiruchi: 0431-2461241, 2410534

Vridhachalam: 04143-263767

Villupuram: 04146-241936

Chennai Egmore: 044-29015203

Live updates:

7.45 a.m.: Padmanabhan, an official of the School 

Education Department, who was travelling in the train,

 reportedly lost Rs. 1.5 lakh after the derailment.

7.15 a.m.: Tiruchi-Chennai Egmore Pallavan Superfast

 Express scheduled to depart Tiruchi at 6.30 am delayed.

6.45 a.m.: Cuddalore Collector S Suresh Kumar meets the

 injured at the hospital.

6.30 a.m.: Railway officials begin restoration work

. Derailed coaches have been removed off the tracks.

6.22 a.m.: Police have ruled out sabotage.

6.15 a.m.: Most of the injured passengers treated as out-

patients at Vridhachalam Government Hospital. One woman

 admitted with shoulder injury.

6.10 a.m.: Some passengers who preferred not to continue

 journey moved to Salem, Tiruchi and Villuppuram by special

 buses.