Rail traffic on accident-hit track near Bengaluru restored

Bengaluru, Feb 14 (IANS) Traffic on the rail track between Anekal and Hosur stations on the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border was restored Saturday a day after an inter-city express train derailed, leaving nine passengers dead and a dozen others injured, an official said.

"Regular traffic on the loop-line between Bengaluru and Salem in Tamil Nadu via Anekal and Hosur has been restored after clearing the single track and towing away all the 14 coaches of the Bengaluru-Ernakulam inter-city express that derailed Friday," a South Western Railway spokesman told IANS.

Being a loop-line, passenger and freight traffic on the track is not so heavy as on the main line with double track between Bengaluru and Chennai via Bangarapeta, Katpadi and Arakkonam.

"Passenger and express trains, which were either cancelled or diverted Saturday on the loop-line will resume operating from Sunday between Bengaluru and a few cities in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Transit trains between Mumbai and Kerala cities via Salem will also pass through the route from Sunday," the official said.

Railway Safety Commissioner (southern circle) S.K. Mittal will hold an inquiry for two days from Feb 17 here in the derailment of the express train (12677) near Anekal, 45km from the city.

"Any member of the public having knowledge of the accident can give evidence in person or in writing to the railway safety commissioner in the divisional railway manager's office in Bengaluru," the official added.

In a related development, the railway authorities handed over the bodies of the nine victims to their relatives at the state-run Victoria hospital in the city after conducting autopsy and completing formalities for claiming Rs.2 lakh compensation announced by Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu here Saturday.