Railway officials examining the tragic derailment of the North East super-fast train in Buxar district, Bihar, have indicated that the accident may have been a result of an engineering fault. The derailment occurred late on Wednesday night near Raghunathpur station, leaving four people dead and 71 injured, causing significant disruption to rail services.
A 15-page joint statement, signed by the on-duty station master, points man, gateman, loco pilot, assistant loco pilot, and trackman, has suggested that the engineering department’s fault may have played a role in the disaster, as revealed by individuals familiar with the matter.
The Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS), responsible for investigating the incident, has recorded statements from these officials, as well as from injured passengers and local witnesses. Additionally, the issue was discussed among East Central Railway (ECR) officials at the accident site to ascertain the circumstances leading to the derailment.
According to Gateman Nand Kishore Singh’s statement, he witnessed sparking and heard loud noises as the train passed by. Loco pilot Bipin Kumar Sinha reported that when the train was traversing Raghunathpur home signal and a railway crossing, he felt heavy vibrations, a jerk in the back portion of the locomotive, and a pressure drop in the brake pipe.
A senior official from the Indian Railway, part of the investigation team, suggested, “If the loco pilot noticed a pressure drop while the train was in motion, it’s possible that one of the wheels came off the track, causing an automatic brake or a brake pipe leakage.” Furthermore, the official noted that 30 minutes prior to the incident, the 15232 Down Durg-Barauni train, which was running on a different route, experienced vibrations on the same track. He emphasized the importance of inquiring whether the station manager was informed of such vibrations.
Earlier, in a preliminary investigation, two senior railway officials had anonymously indicated that the derailment might have been caused by track-related issues, such as a rail fracture or a gap in the tracks.
In a positive development, a trial run was conducted on the affected railway tracks more than 45 hours after the tragic incident. Train operations have resumed on the up line, and the down line was also restored for operation later in the evening.
Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of East Central Railway, Birendra Kumar, noted, “Within 48 hours of the tragedy, train movement on up and down lines was normalized. Train services are now being reinstated, with most of the debris cleared from the tracks.” The investigation continues as authorities strive to ensure the safety and integrity of railway services.
Sources By Agencies