Odisha train tragedy: Railway Board details sequence of events leading to catastrophic accident
New Delhi, June 4: The Railway Board on Sunday explained the events leading to Odisha's triple train accident that left at least 288 people and 1,000 injured.
Holding a press conference, the railways explained that the Bahanaga Bazar station in Balasore, where the horrific crash took place, is a four-line station with two main lines in the middle and two loop lines on either side.
On both loop lines, there were iron ore-laden goods trains.
The Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express ran from Chennai to Howrah, whereas the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express was coming from Howrah. The signal was green on both the main lines.
Jaya Verma Sinha, Member, Operations & BD, Railway Board informed that the Coromandel Express was going at 128 kmph and the other passenger train was at a speed of 126 kmph. The limit is 130 kmph, hence none of them was overspeeding.
She stated that a signalling problem had been discovered, but that further information would be revealed following further investigation. Sinha further said that the reaction time was very less at such a high speed.
"There was signalling interference," she explained, adding that calling it a failure would be incorrect. The Railway Board repeatedly reiterated the Railways Minister's stance that these are preliminary results and that nothing substantial can be revealed until the formal investigation is completed.
Sinha repeatedly said that just one train, the Coromandel Express, and not three, as previously assumed, was involved in an accident.
"For some reason, that train met with an accident, and the engine and coach went over it," she explained. It collided with a cargo train carrying iron ore that was stationed on one of the loop lines, she explained, saying that the goods train absorbed all of the impact since it was so heavy.
Sinha stated that coaches from the Coromandel Express were thrown off the third track and collided with a couple of coaches from a train approaching at high speed from Howrah.
"There were Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches, they are very safe," she said. The damage was worse due to the iron ore, she added.
Also Read | IndiGo flight carrying Union Minister, 2 MLA makes emergency landing at Guwahati Airport
- With inputs from agencies
