India

Seven Unattended Coaches Roll 6 km Before Derailing Near Jolarpettai

By ANI

Seven empty railway coaches left unattended at the Jolarpettai Junction yard in Tirupattur district, Tamil Nadu, and rolled nearly six kilometres before derailing near Thamaleri Muthur on the Bengaluru‑Jolarpettai main line. The coaches had been stationed at the maintenance yard for repair work and were reportedly pushed by an engine but were not properly secured. When they began moving on their own, they crossed the yard limits and travelled the distance before derailing. Railway authorities issued an emergency alert, instructing officials to stop trains approaching Jolarpettai from Bengaluru to prevent a collision. A gatekeeper heard the unusual noise of the derailed coaches and immediately notified railway staff, averting a major accident. Railway personnel responded by clearing the main track, using gas‑cutting equipment to separate the coaches and JCB machinery to push them away. The incident disrupted train services between Bengaluru and Chennai, causing delays for several trains on the route. Jolarpettai Railway Junction, a key hub with 16 tracks and Asia’s second‑largest railway yard, has raised concerns about safety procedures, operational responsibilities and monitoring systems at the yard. Passengers and the public have called for a detailed inquiry and appropriate action if negligence is found.