Mudslide hits passenger train in Kerala, 4 hurt

Four passengers were injured when loose soil caved in on last three coaches of the Thiruvananthapuram-Mangalore Express they were travelling early Friday morning near Mulunthurthy railway station.

Railway sources said a railway staffer, travelling in the train, was among the injured. He suffered a fracture as he came out to see what happened on hearing a loud noise.

The mishap occurred at 1.30 am as the train was approaching nearby Mulunthurthy railway station, the sources said.

It had been raining heavily since last night in Ernakulam, Kottayam and Alapuzha districts with several low lying areas inundated causing severe traffic snarls in various places.

Due to heavy rains, the soil became loose and fell on the sides and inside the three bogies of the train, the sources said.

Except the affected bogies, the train left for its onward journey to Mangalore by 4 am.

One bogie has been removed from the track and efforts are on to remove the two other bogies.

Following the mishap, the trains between Kottayam and Ernakulam stations are being diverted via Alapuzha and some passenger trains between Kottayam-Ernakulam have been cancelled, the sources said.

The line is expected to be restored by 8 am on Saturday.