‘Mistaken’ signal likely led to Coromandel Express ramming goods train: Railways | Latest News India

Preliminary investigations suggest that a “mistake” in the signal likely caused the Coromandel Express to enter the track where a freight train had stopped several meters before, ultimately causing a three-car accident in Balasore, Odisha. 290 people were killed and 900 were injured, according to railroad executives. The report also said the track where the two trains collided was “partially corroded.”

A report reviewed by HT said the Coromandel express train from Howrah to Chennai entered the loop line near Bahanaga Bazaar station in Balasore around 7pm on Friday after a “mistake” signal and was quickly removed.

“After careful observation, I have come to the conclusion that a signal was launched and launched to the main line of train 12841 (Coromandel Express), which entered the loop and collided with a freight train traveling on the loop. “It derailed,” said a report signed by four railroad officials who visited the accident site on Friday night.

A loop line is a railway line that detours from the main line and rejoins the main line at some distance. These basically act as service lanes for trains to stop and overtake without affecting other trains.

A two-page handwritten report by railway executives JN Subdi, RK Banerjee, RK Panjira and AK Mohantu was submitted on Saturday.

Indeed, the exact cause of the accident will only become clear after a detailed technical investigation by the Railway Safety Commissioner. The Federal Railways Ministry has already ordered a high-level investigation to determine the cause of the accident.

The report said the observations were based on observations and recordings in the signal room of Bahanagar Bazar station.

“Meanwhile, the Bangalore-Superfast Express (12864) crossed another line, causing two carriages of the train to derail and capsize,” the report said.

Twenty-one Coromandel Express carriages and two Bangalore Superfast Express carriages derailed, according to the two-page report. He also mentioned that the Coromandel Express entered the loop at a speed of over 120 km/h.

The report also said sleeper carriages on both trains were less affected than air-conditioned sleeper carriages.

The railroad tracks in question are not covered by the railroad’s anti-collision mechanism, ‘kabak’, which automatically stops trains if another train is spotted on the same track.

Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnau said, “We will ensure that no more accidents like this happen in the future.”