Fri Feb 07 15:26:52 UTC 2025: ## Successful Train Derailment Drill Conducted in Madurai
**Madurai, February 7, 2025** – Southern Railway and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) successfully conducted a large-scale rescue and relief drill simulating a train derailment at Koodal Nagar railway station in Madurai on Friday. The exercise involved the derailment of two train coaches – a general coach and an air-conditioned coach – from a Tambaram-bound train.
The drill tested the preparedness of various agencies, including railway staff, police, fire services, and medical teams. First responders quickly secured the area, cutting power lines and alerting oncoming trains. NDRF personnel, using specialized equipment, played a crucial role in rescuing passengers from the damaged coaches, some of which were precariously positioned on top of each other. A medical team conducted triage on-site, with seriously injured individuals transported to local hospitals. Scouts and Guides assisted with logistics, while communication units were established by the NDRF and the Railway Signal and Telecommunication Department.
Madurai Collector M.S. Sangeetha and Divisional Railway Manager Sharad Srivastava oversaw the operation, which included the deployment of a 140-tonne crane to eventually lift and rerail the derailed coaches. A post-operation debriefing highlighted areas for improvement in response times and coordination. The drill successfully demonstrated the collaborative efforts of various agencies in responding to a major railway accident.
First Piper 