VASCO, JUNE 18
Two persons were injured when eight coaches including both engines of the Vasco-Howrah Amaravati Express derailed after the train dashed against a road roller at an unmanned level crossing near Talakal-Yelaburga in Karnataka on Friday.
According to South Western Railway (SWR) Public Relations Officer A V R K Sainath, the train collided with a road roller at unmanned level crossing that resulted in the derailment of eight coaches besides the two engines.
Two engines, three Parcel vans (VPUs), one second class luggage-cum-Brake Van (SLR), two general second class coaches, one AC 3-tier coach and one AC 2-tier coach were derailed.
While there were no injuries to the passengers in the train, the two injured are the drivers of the locomotive and the road roller, who are admitted in the hospital.
Meanwhile, two trains Hubli-Miraj Link Express and Dharwad-Hubli passenger are cancelled, while five trains have been mostly diverted to run via Harihar, Chikjajur, and Bellary stations.
The five partially cancelled trains along the route are the Bellary-Dharwad (partially cancelled between Hospet and Dharwad stations), the Tirupathy-Hubli Fast Passenger (partially cancelled between Hospet and Hubli stations), the Hubli-Tirupathy Fast Passenger (partially cancelled between Hubli and Hospet stations), the Hubli-Vijayawada Passenger (partially cancelled between Hubli and Hospet stations) and the Vijayawada-Hubli Passenger (partially cancelled between Hospet and Hubli stations).
Belgaum correspondent adds: The accident took place at about 3 pm at unmanned level crossing between Bannikoppa and Bhanapur stations of South Western Railway, about 90 kms from Hubli.
The driver of the road roller sustained minor injuries, as he jumped leaving the road roller on the tracks.
Divisional Railway Manager, Hubli Davison Adesh Sharma accompanied by Senior Railway Officials, Doctors and Paramedical staff left by Medical Relief Van (MRV) from Hubli for relief and restoration operations, while one more MRV from Hospet and one brake down special left Hubli immediately to the derailment spot, informed Sainath.
All the passengers of the train are being brought back by the rear portion of the same train as the journey of the train is being diverted via Harihar, Chikjajur, Bellary to Amravathi.
Meanwhile, passengers were put to inconvenience as a number of trains plying between Bangalore and Miraj were diverted while many trains were cancelled.
The Help Line numbers provided by SWR for assistance are Vasco 0832-2512398, Hubli–08362289826; Gadag 0836-2326830 and 0836-2344464, Hospet 08394-223831, Bellary 08392-277704.
