Baleshwar train accident: A ‘delayed’ twist of terrible fate in Odisha | India News – Times of India

Photo of author

By Stories


Fate appears to have conspired in Friday’s disaster involving two passenger trains travelling in the opposite direction and a freight carrier in a loop line.
Also See: Odisha Train Accident Live
A little after 6. 50pm on Friday, Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express should have passed the stationary goods train in the loop line to its left. But a route relay interlocking system error that controls the changing of tracks meant that Coromandel did not switch to the second track at the interchange before the accident point but hurtled on and rammed into the freight train at express speed.

One coach of Coromandel then swung to the right and onto the track of the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, causing the second accident. The train from Bengaluru was supposed to have passed the spot two and-a-half hours ago. But it was running late.

‘Saw 200-300 dead bodies, people were crying for help’: Survivor of Balasore train tragedy

03:42

‘Saw 200-300 dead bodies, people were crying for help’: Survivor of Balasore train tragedy

“The Coromandel Express was on time, but the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express was late by two-and-ahalf hours. It was indeed a tragic coincidence,” said South-Eastern Railway CPRO Aditya Kumar Chaudhary. Eastern Railway general manager Manoj Joshi, who is now Mumbai Metro director (operations) explained that had the Bengaluru-Howrah train been running on time, or not been this late, it would have crossed the spot before Coromandel’s derailment. “The death toll would have been a lot lower as only one passenger train would have been involved in the crash with a goods train,” he rued.

Odisha train tragedy: Preliminary inquiry indicates human error may have caused the three-train crash

02:08

Odisha train tragedy: Preliminary inquiry indicates human error may have caused the three-train crash

Pointing out that crossings are supposed to happen and the rail system is built that way and even if two trains are on time, they do cross each at full speed, Joshi said it was sheer coincidence that two passenger-loaded trains were destined to brush each other after the relay interlocking system failed. “Or else, the driver could have had the time to brake, flash the light to give a distress signal. A difference of minutes or seconds would have saved the second train. Or if the goods train driver hadn’t been caught off guard, found the time to light the flasher light on his loco, then the disaster’s gravity would have been minimised,” said Joshi.

Coromandel Express tragedy: ‘As if bomb had exploded, limbless bodies lying everywhere, ’survivors recount horror

02:49

Coromandel Express tragedy: ‘As if bomb had exploded, limbless bodies lying everywhere, ’survivors recount horror

Rail enthusiast Bhaskar Pyne felt casualties would have been much more had it not been for the Germanmake Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches. LHB coaches are lighter in weight with a maximum speed up to 160kmph, disc brakes and anti-climbing feature. “This reduces the risk of fatalities and injuries. The conventional Integral Coach Factory coaches lack this safety feature. Plus, the window size in LHB coaches are bigger. This, too, is a safety feature,” Pyne added.Watch Restoration work in progress at Balasore train accident site in Odisha: Aerial drone footage reveals ongoing efforts





Source link

Leave a Comment