Goods train derails at Renigunta

Tirupati: As many as 11 passenger trains were cancelled due to derailment of a goods train at the North Cabin of Renigunta Railway junction in the early hours of Monday. Moreover, the rail derailment led to disruption of train traffic on the busy Guntakal-Nellore sections.In view of the derailment and restoration works, officials of the South Central Railway have cancelled a total of 11 passenger trains and diverted many Express trains through Katpadi junction.

Upon receiving the information, the Railway officials from Renigunta, Tirupati and Gudur rushed to the spot and inquired about the incident. They initially suspected the subversive angle, but later they came to a conclusion that the mishap was just an accident. The goods train was on its way to Dornakal in Kurnool district with a load of limestone from Chennai harbour. After crossing the midnight of Sunday, the goods train passed Renigunta station, but derailed at the North cabin, with five wagons falling on the tracks. The impact also led to damage of adjoining Renigunta-Kadapa section track.

As a result, the traffic between Renigunta-Guntakal and Renigunta-Kadapa sections came to a grinding halt. Several trains were forced to halt at various stations. The services of Express trains bound for Kochin, Yashwantpur, Nellore, Benguluru, Dadar and other destination trains were disturbed. The technical crew pooled up from Tirupati, Katpadi, Gudur rushed to the spot and took up repairs on a war footing. By 10.30 am, the crew restored the two tracks on the Kadapa Nellore sections.

The Padmavathi, Venkatadri, Narayanadri and Rayalaseema Express trains reached Tirupati by several hours late. Seven passenger trains from Tirupati to Kakinada, Nellore and Gudur were cancelled. The Kakinada-Tirupati passenger was halted at Srikalahasti station. The Yashwantpur-Howrah, Tiruvananthapuram-Delhi, Bhubhaneshwar-Yashwantpur and five other Express Trains were diverted through Katpadi junction.