K’taka govt offering full cooperation, says Chandy

Kochi: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Friday said that the Karnataka government has offered its complete cooperation to co-ordinate relief work and medical aid for those involved in the accident.

He was briefing the media about the derailment of the Bengaluru-Erankulam inter-city express near Hosur early Friday.

The incident occurred at 7.35 a.m. when the engine and eight coaches of the express train jumped the track and derailed after it left Anekal station (near Bengaluru) towards Hosur (in Tamil Nadu) on the inter-state border.

"So far two Keralites have been reported dead and we are told that two coaches are worst affected. Separate helplines have been opened at the Ernakulam, Thrissur, Thiruvananthapuram," said Chandy.

He had spoken to Karnataka Home Minister K.J. George about the mishap.

Reports said the toll is likely to go up as the worst affected D8 and D9 coaches had around 109 passengers.

Anish, a passenger on the train, told the media in Kochi over telephone that the rescue team had cut open the two coaches to shift the injured to hospitals.