Several injured as local trains collide head on near Andheri stn

Mumbai: More than 20 people were reportedly injured between Andheri and Jogeshwari stations late on Saturday night when two local trains collided head-on in a rare accident on the suburban system. The motorman's coach of a Virar-bound slow train collided with the motorman's coach of a Churchgate-bound train when the latter was switching from the slow to fast tracks.      Western Railway PRO Nitin David said there were no reports of injuries, but those at the scene said several injured people were rushed to Cooper and BSES hospitals. While railway authorities said the trains brushed each other, reports and pictures indicated a head-on collision at 11.05 pm. However, the impact was minimal as both trains were running at slow speeds.      The railway police said a crowded Virar-bound train left Andheri's platform 4 at 11 pm. It then halted after the chain was accidentally pulled or due to a technical snag. Meanwhile, a Churchgate-bound train was switching from the slow to fast tracks, passing in front of the Virar train. For some unknown reason, the Virar train started moving and collided with the Churchgate train, whose third and fourth compartments got derailed.      An angry crowd gathered after the accident and the two motormen were missing from the scene. There were unconfirmed reports of stone pelting.      All WR services, including long-distance ones, came to a halt after the mishap, but services resumed slowly from 12.45am. TNN A TV grab of Saturday night's accident