Security smoked out: Headless train rolls on for 13 km

SAMBALPUR /BHUBANESWAR:  In a shocking incident, the entire Ahmedabad-Puri Express, comprising 22 coaches, rolled down without an engine from Titlagarh (Balangir district) to Kesinga (Kalahandi) on Saturday evening covering a distance of 13 km. All passengers are stated to be safe and Sambalpur Railway Division sent in a locomotive engine to bring the coaches back to Titlagarh so that the train can head towards destination. The incident took place because the local staff failed to apply skid brakes and secure the coaches at Titlagarh railway station where the engine is disengaged and a new diesel engine attached for reversal. Since the gradient from Titlagarh towards Kesigna section is down, the coaches rolled on.

The East Coast Railway authorities acknowledged that the incident was result of negligence by the staff. DRM, Sambalpur Jaideep Gupta immediately suspended two staff - Dharmendra Nial and Kanta Kharsel. Unofficial sources said three more staff have also been placed under suspension. “More heads will roll because the incident could have resulted in a major mishap and slack supervision would not go punished,” sources in the ECoR told The Express. A probe has been ordered by a panel comprising divisional heads of Operating, Safety, Mechanical departments.

ADRM Sambalpur LVSS Patrudeo and Senior Divisional Safety Officer, D Sharma rushed to Titlagarh. A control room was opened to monitor the situation. While engine detachment and attachment is a regular feature at Titlagarh for all trains going to and coming from Raipur, such an incident shocked many. The incident occurred at around 10.05 pm, about half an hour after the train reached the station. Sources said the engine is reversed at Titlagarh and accordingly the engine was detached. “The coaches should have been secured with skids when the engine was detached.

However, it appears that skids were either not placed or placed improperly but reason would be clear after a detailed inquiry,” sources said. Gupta said the Control Room at Sambalpur took a strategic decision which prevented a major disaster. “As there is an up gradient at Kesinga, the control room allowed the coaches without any intervention because stopping it on a down gradient could have resulted in an accident. The level crossing gates were ordered to remain closed.

The speed of the coaches slowed down at the up where the staff put blocks. I was in touch with the passengers on mobile phone asking them not to worry,” he said. ECoR GM Umesh Singh has advised strictest action against negligent act endangering safety of trains. “Safety is non-negotiable and cannot be compromised with. Any Railway employee found guilty will be taken up severely,” a top source said.