Accident
Error in signaling system led to train crash that killed 275 people in India, official says
The derailment in eastern India that killed 275 people and injured hundreds was caused by an error in the electronic signaling system that led a train to wrongly change tracks and crash into a freight train, officials said Sunday.
Authorities worked to clear the mangled wreckage of the two passenger trains that derailed Friday night in Balasore district in Odisha state in one of the country’s deadliest rail disasters in decades.
An Odisha government statement revised the death toll to 275 after a top state officer put the number at over 300 on Sunday morning. The officer spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to reporters.
Jaya Verma Sinha, a senior railway official, said the preliminary investigations revealed that a signal was given to the high-speed Coromandel Express to run on the main track line, but the signal later changed, and the train instead entered an adjacent loop line where it rammed into a freight loaded with iron ore.
Read: India’s deadly train crash renews questions over safety as government pushes railway upgrade
The collision flipped Coromandel Express’s coaches onto another track, causing the incoming Yesvantpur-Howrah Express from the opposite side also to derail, she said.
The passenger trains, carrying 2,296 people, were not overspeeding, she said. Trains that carry goods are often parked on an adjacent loop line so the main line is clear for a passing train.
Verma said the root cause of the crash was related to an error in the electronic signaling system. She said a detailed investigation will reveal whether the error was human or technical.
The electronic interlocking system is a safety mechanism designed to prevent conflicting movements between trains. It also monitors the status of signals that tell drivers how close they are to a next train, how fast they can go and the presence of stationary trains on the track.
Read more: No more survivors found after India train crash kills over 280, injures 900; Modi heads to site
“The system is 99.9% error free. But 0.1% chances are always there for an error,” Verma said. To a question whether the crash could be a case of sabotage, she said “nothing is ruled out.”
On Sunday, a few shattered carriages, mangled and overturned, were the only remnants of the tragedy. Railway workers toiled under the sun’s glare to lay down blocks of cement to fix the broken tracks. A crew with excavators was removing mud and the debris to clear the crash site.
At one of the hospitals nearly 15 kilometers (9 miles) from the site, survivors spoke of the horror of the moment of the crash.
Pantry worker Inder Mahato could not remember the exact sequence of events, but said he heard a loud bang when the Coromandel Express crashed into the freight. The impact caused Mahato, who was in the bathroom, to briefly lose consciousness.
Read: India train crash: some Bangladeshis suffered minor injuries, says deputy high commission
Moments later when he opened his eyes, he saw through the door that was forced open people writhing in pain, many of them already dead. Others were frantically trying to get out from the twisted wreckage of his rail car.
For hours, Mahato, 37, remained stuck in the train’s bathroom, before rescuers scaled up the wreckage and pulled him out.
“God saved me,” he said, lying on the hospital bed while recuperating from a hairline fracture in his sternum. “I am very lucky I am alive.”
Mahato’s friends weren’t so lucky. Four of them died in the crash, he said.
Meanwhile, many desperate relatives were struggling to identify the bodies of their loved ones because of the gruesomeness of the injuries. Few others were searching hospitals to check whether their relatives were alive.
Read: Indian railways minister says signaling system error led to crash that killed over 300 people
In the same hospital where Mahato was recovering from his injuries, Bulti Khatun roamed outside the premises in a dazed state, holding an identity card of her husband who was onboard the Coromandel Express and traveling to southern Chennai city.
Khatun said she visited the morgue and other hospitals to look for him, but was unable to find him.
“I am so helpless,” she said, sobbing.
Fifteen bodies were recovered on Saturday evening and efforts continued overnight with heavy cranes being used to remove an engine that settled on top of a rail car. No bodies were found in the engine and the work was completed on Sunday morning, said Sudhanshu Sarangi, director-general of fire and emergency services in Odisha.
Read more: India train accident: 2 Bangladeshis receiving treatment in hospital, says deputy high commissioner
The crash occurred at a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi is focusing on the modernization of the British colonial-era railroad network in India, which has become the world’s most populous country with 1.42 billion people. Despite government efforts to improve safety, several hundred accidents occur every year on India’s railways, the largest train network under one management in the world.
Modi visited the crash site on Saturday and talked to rescue officials. He also visited a hospital to inquire about the injured, and spoke to some of them.
Modi told reporters he felt the pain of the crash victims. He said the government would do its utmost to help them and strictly punish anyone found responsible.
In 1995, two trains collided near New Delhi, killing 358 people in one of the worst rail accidents in India. In 2016, a passenger train slid off the tracks between the cities of Indore and Patna, killing 146 people.
Most such accidents in India are blamed on human error or outdated signaling equipment.
Read more: Indian officials end rescue work for 2 wrecked passenger trains that killed over 300 people
About 22 million people ride 14,000 trains across India every day, traveling on 64,000 kilometers (40,000 miles) of track.
Indian railways minister says signaling system error led to crash that killed over 300 people
The train derailment in eastern India that killed more than 300 people and injured hundreds more was caused by an error in the electronic signaling system that led a train to wrongly change tracks, India's railways minister said Sunday.
''Who has done it and what is the reason will come out of an investigation," Ashwini Vaishnaw said in an interview with New Delhi Television network.
The explanation came as authorities worked to clear the mangled wreckage of the two passenger trains that derailed Friday night in Balasore district of eastern Odisha state, in one of the country's deadliest rail accidents in decades.
Also Read: Indian officials end rescue work for 2 wrecked passenger trains that killed over 300 people
Preliminary investigations revealed that a signal was given to the high-speed Coromandel Express to enter the main track line, but the signal was later taken off, and the train instead entered an adjacent loop line where it rammed into a goods train. The collision flipped Coromandel Express's coaches onto another track, causing the incoming Yesvantpur-Howrah Express from the opposite side to derail, triggering a three-train collision.
The passenger trains were carrying 2,296 people total.
Trains that carry goods are often parked on an adjacent loop line on the side so the main line is clear for a passing train.
Also Read: India train accident: 2 Bangladeshis receiving treatment in hospital, says deputy high commissioner
Fifteen bodies were recovered on Saturday evening and efforts continued overnight as heavy cranes were used to remove an engine that had settled on top of a rail car. No bodies were found in the engine and the work was completed on Sunday morning, said Sudhanshu Sarangi, director-general of fire and emergency services in Odisha.
The accident occurred at a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi is focusing on the modernization of the British colonial-era railroad network in India, which has become the world's most populous country with 1.42 billion people. Despite government efforts to improve rail safety, several hundred accidents occur every year on India's railways, the largest train network under one management in the world.
Chaotic scenes erupted on Friday night as rescuers climbed atop the wrecked trains to break open doors and windows using cutting torches to try to save people who were trapped inside the rail cars.
Also Read: No more survivors found after India train crash kills over 280, injures 900; Modi heads to site
Modi visited the crash site on Saturday to examine the relief effort and talk to rescue officials. He also visited a hospital where he asked doctors about the treatments being given to the injured, and spoke to some of the patients.
Modi told reporters he felt the pain of those who suffered in the accident. He said the government would do its utmost to help them and strictly punish anyone found responsible.
Ten to 12 coaches of one train derailed, and debris from some of the mangled coaches fell onto a nearby track. The debris was hit by another passenger train coming from the opposite direction, causing up to three coaches of the second train to also derail, said Amitabh Sharma, a Railroad Ministry spokesperson.
In 1995, two trains collided near New Delhi, killing 358 people in one of the worst train accidents in India. In 2016, a passenger train slid off the tracks between the cities of Indore and Patna, killing 146 people.
Most train accidents in India are blamed on human error or outdated signaling equipment.
More than 12 million people ride 14,000 trains across India every day, traveling on 64,000 kilometers (40,000 miles) of track.
Indian officials end rescue work for 2 wrecked passenger trains that killed over 300 people
With rescue work finished, authorities began clearing the mangled wreckage of two passenger trains that derailed in eastern India, killing more than 300 people and injuring hundreds in one of the country’s deadliest rail accidents in decades, officials said Sunday (June 4, 2023).
Investigators are looking into possible causes behind Friday (June 2, 2023) night’s crash in Balasore district of eastern Odisha state, including whether human error or signal failure played a role.
Fifteen bodies were recovered on Saturday evening and efforts continued overnight as heavy cranes were used to remove an engine that had settled on top of a rail car. No bodies were found in the engine and the work was completed on Sunday morning, said Sudhanshu Sarangi, director-general of fire and emergency services in Odisha.
Read more: India train accident: 2 Bangladeshis receiving treatment in hospital, says deputy high commissioner
India train accident: 2 Bangladeshis receiving treatment in hospital, says deputy high commissioner
Two Bangladeshis were hospitalized with injuries following Friday’s (June 2, 2023) train crash in India, Andalib Elias, deputy high commissioner at the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata, said.
“We do not have any information about any deceased Bangladeshis; what we know so far is two Bangladeshi injured passengers are currently undergoing treatment in two hospitals in Odisha,” he said in a video message.
Also read: India train crash kills over 280, injures 900 in country's deadliest rail accident in decades
“Also families of four train passengers contacted us from Bangladesh and said they (the four Bangladeshis) are still missing. We are trying to trace them and already a team from the Kolkata deputy high commission went to the accident site this morning. Hopefully after reaching there they will coordinate with the injured Bangladeshis there,” he added.
The mission provided an emergency Whatsapp number: +919038353533 for further assistance.
Aslo read: Train accident in Odisha: Hotline opened for query about Bangladeshis
Rescuers found no more survivors in the overturned and mangled wreckage of two passenger trains that derailed in eastern India, killing more than 280 people and injuring hundreds in one of the country’s deadliest rail crashes in decades, AP reported.
Also read: India train crash: some Bangladeshis suffered minor injuries, says deputy high commission
India train crash: some Bangladeshis suffered minor injuries, says deputy high commission
The Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata has received reports of minor injuries suffered by a few Bangladeshi passengers, but the number is not known yet, a diplomat has told UNB.
A team of the High Commission is on the way to the accident site to learn more details, he said.
Also read: India train crash kills over 280, injures 900 in country's deadliest rail accident in decades
Two passenger trains derailed in India last night (June 2, 2023), killing more than 280 people. Hundreds of others were trapped inside more than a dozen mangled rail cars in one of the country's deadliest train accidents in decades.
The train accident happened about 220 km southwest of Kolkata. About 900 people were injured in the accident in Balasore district in the state of Odisha, said the state's top administrative official.
India train crash kills over 280, injures 900 in country's deadliest rail accident in decades
Rescuers waded through piles of debris and wreckage to pull out bodies and free people on Saturday (June 3, 2023) after two passenger trains derailed in India, killing more than 280 people. Hundreds of others were trapped inside more than a dozen mangled rail cars overnight in one of the country's deadliest train crashes in decades.
The accident, which happened about 220 kilometers (137 miles) southwest of Kolkata on Friday (June 2, 2023) night, led to a chaotic scene as rescuers climbed atop the wrecked trains to break open doors and windows using cutting torches to free survivors.
About 900 people were injured in the accident in Balasore district in the eastern state of Odisha, said P.K. Jena, the state's top administrative official. The cause was under investigation.
At least 280 bodies were recovered overnight and into Saturday morning, Sudhanshu Sarangi, director of Odisha's fire department, told The Associated Press. He said more than 800 injured passengers were taken to various hospitals with many in critical condition.
Also Read: India train crash death toll rises above 230 with 900 injured as rescuers comb through debris
Rescuers were cutting through the destroyed rail cars to find people who may still be trapped. Sarangi said it was possible that people were stuck underneath but that it was unlikely they would still be alive.
"By 10 p.m. (on Friday) we were able to rescue the survivors. After that it was about picking up dead bodies," he said. "This is very, very tragic. I have never seen anything like this in my career."
Ten to 12 coaches of one train derailed, and debris from some of the mangled coaches fell onto a nearby track, said Amitabh Sharma, a railroad ministry spokesperson. The debris was hit by another passenger train coming from the opposite direction, causing up to three coaches of the second train to also derail, he added.
A third train carrying freight was also involved, the Press Trust of India reported, but there was no immediate confirmation of that from railroad authorities. PTI said some of the derailed passenger coaches hit cars from the freight train.
Read more: India train crash: Few Bangladeshis suffered minor injuries, says deputy high commission
The death toll rose steadily throughout the night as footage showed shattered carriages that had overturned completely. Scores of dead bodies, covered by white sheets, lay on the ground near the train tracks as locals and rescuers raced to help survivors.
Teams of rescuers and police continued sifting through the ruins on Saturday morning as the search operation carried on, amid fears that the death toll is likely to rise further. Scores of people also showed up at a local hospital to donate blood.
Officials said 1,200 rescuers worked with 115 ambulances, 50 buses and 45 mobile health units through the night at the accident site. Saturday was declared as a day of mourning in Odisha as the state's chief minister, Naveen Patnaik, reached the district to meet injured passengers.
Villagers said they rushed to the site to evacuate people after hearing a loud sound created by the train coaches going off the tracks.
Read more: Railway suspends 3 employees over Cumilla train collision, salvage work continues
"The local people really went out on a limb to help us. They not only helped in pulling out people, but retrieved our luggage and got us water," PTI cited Rupam Banerjee, a survivor, as saying.
Passenger Vandana Kaleda said that inside the train during the derailment people were "falling on each other" as her coach shook violently and veered off the tracks.
"As I stepped out of the washroom, suddenly the train tilted. I lost my balance. ... Everything went topsy turvy. People started falling on each other and I was shocked and could not understand what happened. My mind stopped working," she said, adding she felt lucky to survive.
Another survivor who did not give his name said he was sleeping when the impact woke him up. He said he saw other passengers with broken limbs and disfigured faces.
Read more: Train accident in Odisha: Hotline opened for query about Bangladeshis
The derailed Coromandel Express was traveling from Howrah in West Bengal state to Chennai, the capital of southern Tamil Nadu state, PTI said.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his thoughts were with the bereaved families.
"May the injured recover soon," tweeted Modi, who said he had spoken to the railway minister and that "all possible assistance" was being offered.
Despite government efforts to improve rail safety, several hundred accidents occur every year on India's railways, the largest train network under one management in the world.
Read more: A look at deadly train crashes in India in recent decades
In August 1995, two trains collided near New Delhi, killing 358 people in one of the worst train accidents in India.
In 2016, a passenger train slid off the tracks between the cities of Indore and Patna, killing 146 people.
Most train accidents are blamed on human error or outdated signaling equipment.
More than 12 million people ride 14,000 trains across India every day, traveling on 64,000 kilometers (40,000 miles) of track.
Read more: India sees huge potential for cooperation with Bangladesh Railway
3 killed in Panchagarh road crash
Three people were killed and another was injured when a tractor crashed on a motorbike on Boda-Debiganj highway at Kalurhat Kathari in Debiganj upazila of Panchagarh district on Wednesday.
The deceased were identified as Touhidul Islam, 35, son of Almas Ali, Amin Sheikh, 48, son of Rajab Ali and Almas Alim 55, son of Mozammel Haque of Boda municipality area.
Quoting witnesses, Jamal Hossain, officer-in-charge of Debiganj Police Station, said the accident occurred in the morning when the wood-laden tractor hit the motorbike carrying four people, leaving two motorcyclists killed on the spot and two others injured.
Also read: 2 die in Cumilla road accident
The injured were taken to Debiganj Upazila Health Complex at first and then shifted to Rangpur Medical College and Hospital where another victim succumbed to his injuries.
Police could not arrest anyone as the driver of the tractor managed to flee the scene.
3 women killed as truck hit pick-up van in Habiganj
Three women were killed and 10 people injured when a truck rammed into a pick-up van carrying devotees towards the shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal(Rh) on Dhaka-Sylhet highway in Bahubal upazila of Habiganj district early Saturday.
The deceased were identified as Manjila Begum, 45, Tanzila Begum, 35 and Shahinur Begum, 45 of Hossainpur village in Kishoreganj district.
Also read: Habiganj clash leaves one dead, 25 injured
Rakibul Islam, officer-in-charge of Bahubal Model Police Station, said the pick-up van with 15 devotees on board was heading towards the shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal(Rh) from Gobindapur village.
When the pick-up van reached near Mouchak Mohona Community Centre, a stone-laden truck crashed into the vehicle around 1:45 am, leaving three women dead on the spot and 10 others injured.
The injured were taken to Sadar Hospital.
College teacher killed as bus runs over him in Bogura
A college teacher was killed when a bus knocked him down on Bogura-Rangpur highway at Jhopgari in Sadar upazila of Bogura district on Wednesday.
The deceased was identified as Hafizur Rahman, 50, a teacher of Ghoraghat Government College in Dinajpur district and son of Mizanur Rahman of Dhunat upazila.
The accident occurred at 10:30 am when the Rangpur-bound bus hit Hafizur while crossing the road, leaving him dead on the spot, said Afzal Hossain, sub-inspector of Sadar Police Station.
Also read: 3 motorcyclists killed in Faridpur road accident
Police seized the bus but the driver and his helper managed to flee the scene.
2 dead after truck hits van in Dinajpur
Two people died after a truck hit a van in Chandapar area under Dinajpur’s Parbatipur upazila.
The deceased was identified as Abul Kalam, 50, and his nephew Ashraful Islam, 25.
Police arrested the truck driver and seized the truck.
Also Read: Bus runs over mother, daughter in Narsingdi
Kalam was driving the van. He and his nephew were collecting polythene from the area when a truck hit their van, said Abul Hasnat Khan of Parbatipur Model Police Station.
Their family is preparing to lodge a complaint, he said.