Probe in UP train derailment that killed 4 finds negligence of engineering section

A preliminary investigation into the derailment of the Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express in Uttar Pradesh's Gonda district on July 18 has hinted at faults in the tracks and negligence by the railway engineering section as the primary causes for the unfortunate incident.

A total of eight coaches of 15904 Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express derailed in Gonda district's Pikaura when the train was en route to Assam's Dibrugarh from Chandigarh leaving four people dead and injuring several others.

According to the sources, the investigative report prepared by senior railway officials revealed that a trackman, performing the duties of a keyman at Jhilahi, had warned a junior engineer (JE) about a defect on the track between Motiganj and Jhilahi approximately an hour before the accident.

However, the section officer failed to protect the site or put up caution signs, leading to the Dibrugarh Express derailing at high speed.

As there was no sign of caution, the Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express passed over the faulty track at a speed of 80 km per hour instead of the recommended 30 km/hr, resulting in the derailment.

A team of six North Eastern Railway (NER) took statements from the train driver, manager, station master, and other employees and conducted a technical inspection of the accident site. They concluded that the engineering department's negligence was responsible for the train accident.

“We suspect the incident may have been caused by some defects in the railway track and bogies. So far, we have not found any other faults. The inquiry will look into how this happened as maintenance work on the railway track and bogies are done regularly as per a scheduled calendar. The probe will also examine whether the maintenance team was performing its duties properly,” a senior railway official was quoted as saying.

“The preliminary inquiry has found that the bogies overturned immediately after getting derailed,” he added.