12.11.19

Somewhere in Hyderabad....

Seventeen people, including a loco pilot, suffered injuries when a local city train leaving Kacheguda railway station collided with inbound Hundry Intercity Express. Six coaches of the MMTS (multi-modal transport system) service derailed due to the impact. After an eight-hour rescue effort, MMTS loco-pilot was extricated alive from the mangled cabin. Had MMTS driver not applied brake, it could have been a bigger tragedy.

As a result of the accident, train services on the Kacheguda–Falaknuma section were affected, resulting in cancellation of at least 26 trains.

MMTS loco pilot D Chandrashekar, 35, who got stuck in the mangled cabin, was extricated around 6.30 pm by a team of NDRF, GHMC’s DRF and railway medical relief van staff after an eight hour non-stop effort. Railway officials said “his condition is stable” and he was rushed to a local hospital for treatment.

Around 10.35 am, an MMTS (Lingampalli-Falakunma) service started from platform number 2 of the Kacheguda station towards its destination, Falaknuma. Seconds later, it crashed into the inbound Hundry Express (Kurnool-Secunderabad) at the track interchange. The Hundry Express, which was waiting at the outer signal, was heading for platform number three, when the mishap occurred. Several passengers also fell out of the coaches due to the impact of the collision.

A look of the accident spot reveals that both loco pilots could see each other as their cabins collided. Due to the impact of the collision, MMTS loco pilot Chandrashekar got stuck in his cabin. Apart from his cabin, vendor coaches too suffered damages. A coach of the differently-abled persons was among the bogies derailed.

Of the 16 passengers rushed to Osmania General Hospital, five persons—Shekhar, Rajkumar, Raheemuddin, Anuradhamma, Ibrahim— were grievously injured. “They have been admitted with serious injuries and fractures. Shekhar’s condition is very critical. He has suffered multiple fractures,” OGH superintendent Dr B Nagender said.

Senior South Central Railway officials reached the spot and started relief measures. SCR additional general manager B B Singh who visited the spot, said, “Preliminary investigation revealed that the accident took place due to human error. We have ordered a high level inquiry by the commissioner of railway safety, Secunderabad, into the accident. We are yet to get all details of the accident.”

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