It was a miraculous escape for hundreds of commuters travelling in the Thiruvanthapuram-Mangalru Express as 12 coaches of the train derailed at Karukutty, around 45 kms from Kochi at 2.20 a.m. on Sunday. A possible major collision was also averted as the Chennai-Trivandrum train coming towards Ernakulam was stopped around 300 metres away from the accident spot. No injuries or casualties were reported. However, train traffic on both the tracks have been severely affected, with railway authorities cancelling and diverting many trains, including express services.

The stranded were fed breakfast and a special train carrying them to Mangaluru left Chalakudy at 7.30 a.m. “We were sleeping and woke up by hearing a big sound around 2.20 a.m. and train coming to a halt. It was raining and we smelled of the accident", said one passenger. The 12 coaches tilted over the rails onto the ballast rather than overturn.

The repair works is expected to take at least 10 hours as the railway officials, police and rescue workers work together to restore the damaged tracks. The derailment has blocked both lines of the route on Ernakulam-Thrissur route, a Southern Railway spokesman said. "The cause of the accident has to be investigated. The tracks have been damaged for about 200 metres. Passengers panicked as the incident happened in the night hours. However, we managed to launch rescue operations at the earliest," said a senior railway official attached to the Thiruvananthapuram railway division.