15 dead as trains collide near Chennai

CHENNAI: At least 15 people were killed as a train rammed a stationary train near Arakonam junction in Tamil Nadu's Vellore district Tuesday night, police said. The number of injured was around 80.The accident occurred as the Chennai Beach-Vellore electric multiple unit (EMU) train hit the Arakonam-Katpadi passenger train that was waiting for a signal at around 9.30 p.m. At least three bogeys were thrown off the tracks in the collision.Arakonam is around 85 km from Chennai."At least 15 people are feared dead and 50 injured. The accident happened near Chitteri railway station," a police official at the spot told IANS.Vellore MP Abdul Rehman said he had been told by reliable sources that at least 15 people had been killed in the accident.Scores of people were trapped in the wreckage, police said. Efforts are in full swing to free the trapped people was on but the darkness and heavy rain were hampering the rescue operations.According to the Inspector General of Police (Northern Zone) Shailendra Babu, police and fire brigade teams had reached the spot with the necessary equipment and rescue and relief operations were on. He said he was also leaving for the spot.The injured, said to be around 80, were taken to various hospitals in Vellore while teams of doctors had also reached the accident site.The casualty figure is expected to go up as many are severely injured.A railway team from here has been rushed to the spot.Meanwhile, locals braving the rains are extending help in the rescue efforts.The guard of the stationary passenger train and the driver of the EMU are among the dead, police said.Meanwhile, the railways have cancelled some trains passing through Katpadi and have halted some others at different places.According to railway authorities, resumption of the rail services on the route will be after the completion of the rescue operations.