12 coaches of express train derail in Kerala; none injured

Twelve coaches of Thiruvananthapuram-Mangalore express derailed in the wee hours today near Karukutty station, around 45 km from here, Southern Railway said.

No casualties were reported in the incident.

The incident took place around 2.30 am when the 16347 express train derailed between Aluva and Karukutty stations in Ernakulam district after leaving from Thiruvanathapuram at 8.40 pm yesterday, a Southern Railway spokesman said.

Following the incident, buses and local trains were arranged to ferry the stranded passengers to Kochi and Thrissur.

Traffic on both the lines of the route is affected due to the derailment and six to 10 hours are expected to complete the repair works of the damaged tracks on Ernakulam-Thrissur route, the spokesman said.

Some local trains connecting major stations of Kerala have been cancelled because of the derailment.