In pics: Chennai train collision

At least nine people were killed and over were 100 injured when two trains collided near Chennai on Tuesday night. The accident happened near Arakkonam when Chennai Beach-Vellore Cantonment train rammed the stationary Arakkonam-Katpadi passenger train at around 9:30 pm.

Sep 14, 2011 00:09 IST

At least nine people were killed and over were 100 injured when two trains collided near Chennai on Tuesday night.

The accident happened near Arakkonam when Chennai Beach-Vellore Cantonment train rammed the stationary Arakkonam-Katpadi passenger train at around 9:30 pm.
The accident happened at a point between Melpakkam and Chitheri stations near Arakkonam.
The Arakkonam-Katpadi train was waiting for signal when it was hit by the Vellore-bound train.

The exact cause of accident has not been confirmed yet. Railway officials suspect it to be a case of over-speeding.
Five bogies of the stationary train and three bogies of the moving train derailed after the accident.
The injured were rushed to Arakkonam and Vellore government hospitals, and also to hospitals in Kancheepuram.

Train services are expected to resume by this evening.
Southern Railways has set up special help desks and helplines to help travelers.
This is the third rail mishap since July this year.

People helping with the rescue operations.
One of the derailed bogeys.
The injured have been rushed to nearby hospitals.
Another view of one of the five bogies derailed in the collision.
One of the injured being rushed to a nearby hospital.
The injured have been rushed to government hospitals in Arakonam and Vellore.
Besides government hospitals in Arakonam and Vellore, the injured have also been rushed to hospitals in Kancheepuram.
The local police helping out with the rescue operations.
One of the many injured people who were rescued receives medical treatment.
A shot of a hospital outside Arakonam, where rescue operations have been marred by the heavy rain.
Rescuers look for the injured.
Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi rushed to the site of the accident with senior Railway officials.

He has announced a compensation of Rs. 5 lakh for the next of kin of those killed and Rs. 2 lakh for those seriously injured.
This is the third rail mishap since July this year. Seventy people were killed when the Howrah-Kalka Mail derailed near Kanpur on July 10.
Eyewitnesses say that the accident occurred at 9:25 pm, adding that five bogies were derailed.
More than 100 police officials and firemen are involved in the rescue efforts.
Many passengers are trapped under the debris. Heavy rain and darkness are hampering rescue work.
Earlier this year, some coaches of Guwahati-Bangalore Express jumped the tracks in Malda district of West Bengal and were hit by another train leaving three persons dead.