Authorities tight-lipped as probe begins into deadly train derailment near Jamshedpur
Railway officials remain silent on the cause of the Howrah-Mumbai Mail accident that claimed two lives.
JAMSHEDPUR – A tragic rail mishap involving the Howrah-Mumbai Mail at Barabambo has left authorities scrambling for answers.
The catastrophe unfolded in the early hours of Tuesday when the Howrah-Mumbai Mail collided with derailed wagons of a goods train.
This unfortunate event resulted in the derailment of 18 coaches, including 16 passenger carriages, one power car, and a pantry car.
The accident occurred approximately 85 kilometers from Jamshedpur at 3:40 am, causing significant disruption to rail services.
Official Response
Senior railway officials have refrained from commenting on the cause of the accident.
Aditya Kumar Chaudhury, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager of Chakradharpur division, stated, "We await the findings of the Commissioner of Railway Safety’s investigation before making any statements."
He assured that appropriate actions would be taken based on the probe’s conclusions.
Impact on Rail Services
The derailment has led to widespread cancellations and alterations in train schedules.
Affected Train Services
|
Train Number |
Route |
Status |
|
08163/08164 |
Chakradharpur-Rourkela-Chakradharpur Special |
Canceled |
|
12768 |
Santragachi-Nanded Express |
Canceled |
|
08602 |
Hatia-Tatanagar Special |
Canceled |
|
08195 |
Tatanagar-Hatia Special |
Canceled (Aug 1) |
|
18190 |
Ernakulam-Tatanagar Express |
Canceled (Aug 1) |
|
18114 |
Bilaspur-Tatanagar Express |
Canceled |
|
12872 |
Titlagarh-Howrah Express |
Canceled |
|
18011 |
Howrah-Chakradharpur Express |
Short-terminated at Adra |
|
13287 |
Durg-Ara Express |
Running on normal route |
Restoration Efforts
Railway authorities are working tirelessly to restore normal operations.
The bi-directional 3rd line is expected to become operational today, with plans to restore the other two lines in due course.
High-ranking officials, including Anil Kumar Mishra, General Manager of South Eastern Railway, and Arun Jatoh Rathod, Divisional Railway Manager of Chakradharpur, are overseeing the restoration process.
Safety Concerns
The incident has raised questions about railway safety protocols.
A source revealed that the goods train driver had reported the initial derailment to signaling staff before the Howrah-Mumbai Mail encountered the same fate.
This information has sparked concerns about communication effectiveness and emergency response procedures within the railway system.
"The timely relay of crucial information could have potentially averted this tragedy," remarked a railway safety expert who wished to remain anonymous.
