New Delhi. Due to heavy rains the area was flooded and rivers were in spate. The roads were filled with water. Train was the only means of transportation left. People were traveling long distances with its help. The railway bridge had become weak due to the rise in the water level of a river in South India. As soon as the train passed, the bridge collapsed and the train got submerged in water. This accident happened on this day, about 69 years ago.
On 23 November 1956, it was raining heavily in Tamil Nadu. Due to this, there were flood situations in many areas. Train number 16236 Thoothukudi Express was going from Chennai towards Thoothukudi. There were about 800 passengers in this train. The Marudaiyaru river was in full spate, just two miles away from Ariyalur railway station. Water was visible all around. A railway bridge was built over this river, which was destroyed due to heavy floods.
Loco pilot of Thoothukudi Express was not given any information in this regard. The train was moving at its own speed. However, at that time the medium of communication was not like it is today. So that information would be available immediately. The train reached here at around 4.30 in the morning. There was darkness all around because of the dense clouds. Because of this the loco pilot could not see far.
continuous rain for several days
The torrential rains for the last several days had increased the water level of the river so much that the water reached the railway tracks. The pillars of the bridge had weakened and a 20-feet long portion had sunk due to erosion. The train reached the bridge over the Marudaiyaru river and before the loco pilot could understand anything. The train has fallen into the river. Many coaches fell into water. Most of the passengers were sleeping in the train. They did not understand what had happened. There was an uproar all around. People started pleading for help.
First of all, villagers from nearby villages reached the spot and started rescue operations.
Loco pilot was not alert
Some sources list the location of the accident as Ariyankavu, Kerala, but historical records confirm that it occurred in Ariyalur, Tamil Nadu, near the Kerala border. This train, which left from Madras (now Chennai) on the night of 22 November, had 13 bogies. Most of the passengers were common people from South India, who were returning home with their families. By morning the train reached the bridge between Ariyalur-Kallagam stations. According to the report, the loco pilot of the train did not receive any warning.
Accident after passing four trains
Before this train passed, four trains had passed, but when the Thoothukudi Express arrived for the fifth time, the engine and seven bogies derailed. With a loud bang the entire part rolled into the river.
Passengers jumped into the water mistaking it for sand
In the dark, the travelers jumped into the water mistaking it for sand, but the rising current took them away. Many bogies were completely submerged, and hundreds were trapped under the debris. The tragedy of the accident was so horrific that initial reports estimated 250 deaths. According to official figures, 154 people were killed, while more than 110 were injured. Only 150 dead bodies were recovered in the rescue operation that lasted for two days. The remaining bodies were never found because the strong current of the river swept them away.
Villagers reached the spot first
Local villagers were the first to help. People of Sillakudi, Mettal and Ariyalur ran after hearing the noise. People waded through the flood and entered the coaches and pulled out the surviving passengers. Many people remained trapped for hours, after which they could be rescued. Rescue team arrived from Tiruchirappalli.
Bridge weak in investigation report
According to the government investigation report, the bridge was old and weak. Despite heavy rain, railway officials continued to operate trains. The report said that engineering and weather neglect were the main reasons for the accident. According to the report, this accident was similar to the Mahabubnagar railway accident that happened just two months earlier (2 September 1956), where also a bridge had collapsed due to floods.
Lal Bahadur Shastri resigned
After this accident, Railway Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri took his moral responsibility and submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on 7 December 1956. Nehru accepted it. After the accident, Railways paid attention to the strength of bridges and flood warning technology.
