Odisha train accident: Exchange of wrong signals resulted in cascading effect

HYDERABAD: A signal given for the Coromandel Express to go ahead on the up main at around 6.55 pm on Friday and taken off within a split second has led to the triple train accident, the inspection report of the five-member committee of the Indian railway said. The Coromandel which has already crossed the signal, considering the green signal then entered the loop line, hit the goods train, and derailed.

“The train 12841 Coromandel entered into the up-loop line and dashed with goods train which was on the up-loop line and derailed,” the conclusion part of the two-page handwritten report reasoned. In the meantime, train 12864 Howrah Superfastpassed through on the down-main line at the same time and two coaches of it were derailed and capsized, the report added giving the chain reaction of the events triggered by a wrong signal.

The joint inspection report confirmed that 21 coaches of Coromandel, were found derailed and some coaches were found capsized. The railway authorities who were assessing the extent of the damage to the track and the rolling stock, said that restoration and rescue operations were in progress.