Chennai trian mishap: Railway officials blame driver for speeding

Railway officials blamed the driver of the Chennai Beach-Vellore Cantonment suburban train for jumping signal and ramming into a stationary passenger train on Tuesday night which resulted in 10 deaths and 85 persons getting injured at Arakonam, 80km from Chennai.  

The Arakkonam-Vellore passenger train was waiting for the green signal near Sitheri Station when the Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) running between Chennai Beach and Vellore rammed into it from behind. The accident occured amidst heavy downpour which hampered rescue and relief operations. Initial reports had said the number of casualties could be more because of poor visibility and the condition of the derailed coaches which resembled mangled metal pieces.

"The driver of the train that rammed into the rear of a stationary passenger train jumped a few signals and ignored speed restrictions," said a senior railway official who did not wish to be named.

"The driver had passed a few signals at yellow and a few at red also and collided with the passenger train waiting for signal clearance a speed in excess of 90km per hour," Deepak Kishan, General Manager of Southern Railway, told reporters. He said the driver A Rajkumar has been injured seriously as he jumped out of the train before the collision. "We are yet to speak to him," he said.

The railway has appointed a committee of inquiry under Commissioner of Railway Safety SK Mittal to probe into Tuesday night’s collisions between two trains. Dinesh Trivedi, Union railway minister, who visited the accident site announced an ex-gratia of Rs5 lakh to the next of the kin of those who were killed and Rs1 lakh to those who were grievously injured in the accident.       

Southern Railway cancelled 11 trains on Wednesady. Nine trains originating from Chennai Central has been rescheduled due to restoration works of the damaged tracks," said VJ Accamma, chief public relations officer.

Senior railway professionals pointed out that the organisation is ignoring basic security and safety considerations. “The priority seems to have changed to laying new tracks instead of strengthening and fool-proofing  safety measures. We should ensure the safety of the trains and the passengers instead of craving for bullet trains and high speed corridors. If the safety track records of Indian Railways are any indication, I myself shudder at the thought of travelling by trains,” said a senior official.  

Meanwhile Boopathy, public relations officer, Southern Railway said normalcy would be restored by late tonight. “We have either rescheduled or cancelled some of the services because of the damaged tracks. It is being repaired and would be ready by tonight,” he said.