TN train crash: GRP finds rail switch points tampered

Despite having been given a green signal to continue on the main line, the track set for the loop line, leading to derailment of 12 coaches which left 20 injured.
Indian railway workers restoring the site by pushing the coaches of the Mysuru-Darbhanga Bagmati Express train derailed at the Kavaraipettai Railway Station.
Indian railway workers restoring the site by pushing the coaches of the Mysuru-Darbhanga Bagmati Express train derailed at the Kavaraipettai Railway Station. Photo | P Ravikumar
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CHENNAI: The Government Railway Police (GRP), investigating the Mysuru-Darbhanga Bagmati Express derailment at Kavaraipettai near Gummidipundi on October 12, suspects sabotage due to external tampering of the switch points and other infrastructure. However, police stated that the investigation will explore all aspects, including technical failure due to which the green signal for the main line remained unchanged when the track was realigned for the loop route.

The derailment occurred around 8.30 pm on October 12 when the Bagmati Express, heading to Darbhanga, entered a loop line where a freight train was stationed at Kavaraipettai station. Despite having been given a green signal to continue on the main line, the track set for the loop line, leading to derailment of 12 coaches which left 20 injured. As a result, more than 50 trains were cancelled or diverted for the next two days. There were 1,800 passengers onboard the train when the incident took place.

According to police sources, the initial inquiry revealed that the signalling gears and switch point connecting rods were tampered with, and bolts and nuts were found loosened. A similar incident at Ponneri last month is also under investigation, with call detail records retrieved for both locations.

A retired senior railway official told TNIE that in the case of tampering or infrastructure failure, the signal should have turned red. However, in this case, it remained green for both the loop and main lines, despite the removal of bolts and nuts.

“The interlocking signalling system should not have allowed the signal to stay green when the tongue rail got detached from mainline and connected to the loop line. Given these conditions, the signal should have turned red. The signal and telecommunication department has a lot to explain.”

When questioned, a police officer said that the MEMU train, which passed Kavaraipettai just minutes before the Bagmati Express, may have further compromised the signal box. “The S&T department of the Railways has answered some of our questions. Our probe will also cover potential technical failure as well,” the officer said.

In the backdrop of this incident, the GRP has deployed round-the-clock police protection for the tracks at Kavaraipettai and Wimco Nagar. The Railway Protection Force (Chennai division) has also written to Southern Railway to install surveillance cameras along the tracks between Basin Bridge and Sulurpetta.

An official mentioned that except for the Korukkupet railway bridge and Ponneri railway lines, there are no CCTV cameras along the route, and they have asked for fencing along the tracks to prevent unauthorised entry. Southern Railway officials were unavailable for comments.

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