Repeated Coach Derailments Expose Engineering Flaws at Tatanagar Station
The engineering department of Tatanagar railway station faces scrutiny after two train derailments in a day disrupt operations.
JAMSHEDPUR – The engineering department of Tatanagar railway station, part of the Chakradharpur division, came under fire on Friday following two train derailments due to alleged negligence.
Despite earlier warnings from a loco pilot about potential track issues, necessary precautions were not taken, leading to significant disruptions.
The first incident involved the Tata Jammu Tawi Express, which departed from Tatanagar at 11.20 pm, followed by the Tata-Yesvantpur and Tata-Thave Express trains.
Operations on the sick line, where a coaching train derailed, were halted for approximately nine hours.
Railway officials managed to re-rail the derailed train by 8 pm, but operations for all three trains were stalled till late at night, awaiting a track safety certificate.
Passengers of the affected trains faced considerable inconvenience due to the repeated rescheduling and ongoing delays amid cold weather conditions.
This marked the second derailment at the same location within a single day.
The first derailment was addressed by the railway staff, but the second incident was more severe.
The root of the issue seems to be ongoing excavation work for an underpass near the Tatanagar Loco Yard. A loco engine driver had previously reported that the excavation was weakening the ground beneath the track, risking potential sinkage. However, the engineering department reportedly did not take serious action, only reducing the shunting speed from 10 to 5 kilometers per hour.
Railway employees said that this incident raises concerns about safety protocols, especially considering the recent visit of the Railway Minister and the General Manager of South Eastern Railway to Tatanagar.
