BHUBANESWAR: The Shalimar Chennai Coromandel Express (12841) the train had entered the wrong track moments before the mishap at the Bahanaga Bazar station in Balasore district on Friday night in which more than 260 people were killed and 900 injured, authorities said.
Citing a preliminary investigation, railway officials and odisha Police personnel visiting the site of the train crash said the Coromandel Express struck a static freight train as it entered the circle line instead of continuing on its main line to Chennai. “This could be due to human signaling error. The Coromandel Express had a green signal to move on the main line towards Chennai,” an official said.
Coromandel express live accident
After colliding with the stationary train at a speed of 130 km per hour, its engine mounted on top of the freight train and all 22 carriages derailed. At least three Coromandel carriages jumped onto the parallel track and collided with the rear of the Sir M Visveswaraya Terminal-Howrah Superfast Express (12864) which was passing through the station at the same time, around 7pm
Under its impact, the two carriages of the Howrah-bound train and three of the Chennai-bound train suffered the most damage and reported the highest number of casualties, authorities said.
While visiting the site of the mishap, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that a high-level investigative committee has been formed which will investigate in detail the reasons that caused the mishap. This separate railway safety commissioner will also carry out a probe.
Vaishnaw said the salvage work is over while Indian Railways had started restoration work.
Odisha Prime Minister Naveen Patnaik and his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee also assessed the situation on the ground. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit the site tonight.
Citing a preliminary investigation, railway officials and odisha Police personnel visiting the site of the train crash said the Coromandel Express struck a static freight train as it entered the circle line instead of continuing on its main line to Chennai. “This could be due to human signaling error. The Coromandel Express had a green signal to move on the main line towards Chennai,” an official said.
Coromandel express live accident
After colliding with the stationary train at a speed of 130 km per hour, its engine mounted on top of the freight train and all 22 carriages derailed. At least three Coromandel carriages jumped onto the parallel track and collided with the rear of the Sir M Visveswaraya Terminal-Howrah Superfast Express (12864) which was passing through the station at the same time, around 7pm
Under its impact, the two carriages of the Howrah-bound train and three of the Chennai-bound train suffered the most damage and reported the highest number of casualties, authorities said.
While visiting the site of the mishap, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that a high-level investigative committee has been formed which will investigate in detail the reasons that caused the mishap. This separate railway safety commissioner will also carry out a probe.
Vaishnaw said the salvage work is over while Indian Railways had started restoration work.
Odisha Prime Minister Naveen Patnaik and his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee also assessed the situation on the ground. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit the site tonight.