Days before railway minister Suresh Prabhu presents his budget, nine passengers were killed and 16 seriously injured when nine bogies of the Ernakulam-bound Express train from Bengaluru derailed  on Friday morning near the border of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, about 45 kms from Bengaluru.  Five men, three women and a 9 year-old are among those killed in the mishap.

The Bangalore-Ernakulam Inter City Express train had left Bengaluru at 0615 hrs and derailed at 0735 hrs between Anekal Road and Hosur on Bangalore City-Salem Section.  Bengaluru’s divisional railway manager Anil Kumar Agarwal informed that rescue operation had been completed.

Suresh Prabhu said in a tweet soon after the accident that a boulder fell on the track and the train hit it. Prabhu said an inquiry had been ordered to fix responsibility and for corrective action to prevent such unfortunate accidents. He said he was monitoring "action" regularly.

Agarwal said the engine driver had told authorities that he heard a rumbling sound of a boulder but the officials did not find any.

Karnataka Director General of Police (DGP) Lalrokhuma Pachau said 16 passengers had been hospitalised, adding, "the rest of those with minor injuries were given first aid and they have left the place."

Railway police Additional Director General of Police R P Sharma said 25 passengers had received minor injuries.

Union Law Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, who was asked by Prabhu to rush to the accident site, said nine coaches had derailed. The injured had been taken to hospitals in Anekal and Bengaluru, he said.

Helpdesks have been set up at Bangalore City Railway Station and at the accident site.

Helpdesk numbers in Bengaluru city:  BSNL Nos: 080-22371166,  080-22156553, 080-22156554
Mobile Nos:  09731666751

Thiruvananthapuram 0471-2321205, 2321237, 09746769960; Ernakulam junction 0484-2100317, 0813699773, 09539336040; Ernakulam town 0484-2398200; Thrissur 0487-2424148, 2430060,
Railways 0484-2624143 and accident site number is 9448090599.