Three passengers died as the Kochi bound Bangalore-Kochi Intercity train derailed Friday morning near Hossur in Tamil Nadu, said a passenger travelling on the train.

 

 Cyriac Mathew told the media over telephone that the accident occurred around 7.45 a.m.

 

 "Around nine coaches bogies derailed. The worst affected was the coach D-8. I could see the bodies of two men and a woman in the coach…," said Mathew.

 

 "Police and the ambulance arrived an hour after the accident," Mattew said.

 

 He said some passengers have suffered minor injuries and that rescue operations are underway.

 

 "The most affected coach is now being cut open," said Mathew, who is a regular on the train. He said the train was not very crowded.