Trains collide; fortunate escape for passengers

HYDERABAD: A special coach of Akola Express train derailed after one of the bogies of the Venkatadri express hit it while being taken to the dockyard at Kacheguda railway station on Friday.Had the special coach not been attached to Akola Express, the hit  could have ended in a major mishap as 30 women passengers were seated in the bogie next to the special coach. It was due to the alertness of a guard and junior engineer that a major mishap was averted. No one was injured and officials put the derailed special coach back on track by evening.The South Central Railway zone divisional railway manager, M Hussain ordered an enquiry into the incident and instructed the enquiry officers concerned to submit a report within 90 days. Speaking to Express, M Hussain said three officers have been appointed to conduct an enquiry into the incident. Action would be initiated against those responsible for the accident. All other trains are running without any interruption and as per schedule.According to the officials, Venkatadri Express coming from Chittoor chugged into platform No. 3 of Kacheguda railway station at 7 a.m. After all the passengers alighted, the train was being taken to the dockyard when it hit the rear end of the special coach attached to the Akola Express which was going towards Nanded. If the special coach was not attached, the Venkatadri Express would have hit the ladies coach which was filled with nearly 30 women.Two employees were in the special coach who included one junior engineer P Chary who tried to stop train by pulling the chain. At that time the Guard of Akola Express also applied emergency breaks. However, Akola Express went back for a distance of 100 metres. Both employees P Chary and coach attendant Narasaiah jumped out of the coach.According to P Chary, “We observed the train was going back suddenly, and at the same time we also observed that Venkatadri which was on the next track was also moving back and hit our coach. We tried to stop the train by pulling the chain but efforts went in vain and we jumped from the coach before it got derailed. The rear end of the coach was fully damaged”, he explained.