India: Initial probe blames engineering team for Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express derailment
Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express train derailed in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh
The preliminary investigation report into the derailment of the Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express has revealed negligence by the railway engineering section as the possible cause of the accident.
The trail derailed in the Gonda district of the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh onThursday (Jul 18), leaving four dead and several injured.
The report prepared by a six-member team of senior railway officials has claimed that workers knewabout the fault in the track but no action was taken by the zipper hierarchy.
A trackman, performing the duties of a keyman had warned a junior engineer about a defect in the track between Motiganj and Jhilahi approximately an hour (1:30 PM IST) before the accident. The section officer failed to show caution and the Dibrugarh Express crossed the section at high speed when it should have been cautioned.
“When IMR (immediate removal defect) was detected (at 1.30 pm), the site should have been protected till the caution order was served but it was not done due to which the train derailed. The engineering department is responsible for it,” the joint probe report, written in Hindisaid.
)
Pak batter Rizwan's petition against being questioned by cyber crime agency rejected by court
)
Hong Kong unveils 11 new measures to boost birth rates, offers higher cash bonuses and housing perks
)
240-million-year-old bizarre 'pig with a tusk' creature creates new dilemma over origin of dinosaurs
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Meet top 5 batters in the latest ICC T20I Rankings
)
All Indian goods to get duty-free access to New Zealand
)
US intel warns China can steal F-35 jets secret from Saudis
)
Ukraine plans record $109 bn defence spending, nearly two thirds of budget amid Russia war
)
Former OpenAI researcher warns of growing risks from Artificial Intelligence
)
US F-16 fighter jet crashes in Michigan during training mission, pilot ejects safely
)
Pak defence minister says 'time has come to implement pact'
)
Fed raises rates for first time in 3 years, Kevin Warsh defies Trump as inflation mounts
)
Formula One reveals the 2027 race calendar; Monaco to host sprint race for the first time
)
Trump could impose tariffs of up to 100%
)
Daayra movie review: Kareena Kapoor, Prithviraj Sukumaran shine in Meghna Gulzar’s cop-versus-cop crime thriller
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Suriya and Jyothika say ‘I do’ again after 20 years! See their dreamy wedding pics
)
Laura Wolvaardt sets new world record for most WT20I runs in a year
)
US drone firm linked to Trump’s sons signs MoU with Pakistan army, gets initial order
)
US-Iran War: Trump says ‘big decision’ on Iran ahead, weighs possible fresh military action
)
Mahua Moitra moves UN over alleged exclusion of Muslim officers from Amit Shah events
)
Tata Trusts chairman Noel Tata calls Chandrasekaran’s reappointment ‘illegal’, rejects Tata Sons listing
)
AI already defying, denying humans, is it beyond human control already?
)
Pezeshkian, Araghchi set to attend UNGA 2026 in New York amid ongoing conflict as US-imposed travel curbs remain
)
Abhishek Sharma shatters record with 30-ball century against Afghanistan
)
Putin 'is plotting something bad': Russia may launch 'accidental' strikes on NATO countries supporting Ukraine, Poland PM warns
)
‘I have a big decision coming up’: Trump says he’s approaching major ‘crossroad’ in Iran war
)
Dolly Parton dies at 80: Country legend’s team reveals cause of death
)
US to sell 48 F-35 Lightning fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, help it deter threats
)
Former India player Diana Edulji wants Smriti Mandhana to replace Harman as skipper at the earliest
)
Australian athlete, who soiled herself during Hyrox race, apologises for continuing
Notably, the station master of Motiganj was given the memorandum to put a speed restriction of 30 kmph for trains at 2:30 pm - two minutes after the Dibrugarh Express had derailed.
Additionally, the investigation team found that cloth pieces were used with 72 elastic rail clips to fasten the rail track.Elastic rail clips (ERC) also known as pandrol clips are primarily used to fasten the rail with concrete sleepers in order to bring stability while high-speed trains cruise on the track.
“The fastening of the rail track was not proper, so the rail track was not secure,” the report added.
Watch |India: Four dead, 20 hurt in UP train tragedy; 15 bogies of train derail in Gonda
Engineering team disagrees
The report was compiled after taking statements from the train driver, station master and other employees. One member of the team, however, did not agree with the final report.
“I completely disagree with the joint note. It was incorrect to conclude that the site 638/16-14 km was not protected, because the IMR spot was completely fine and it was not the reason for the derailment,” wrote P K Singh, the senior section engineer representing the engineering department.
The Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) is expected to conduct the final investigation into the accident, starting Sunday (Jul 21).
(With inputs from agencies)