Mumbra train accident: Not doing track maintenance work, high speed among 6 reasons behind FIR against engineers
The report mentioned as sixth reason that on checking the height of the cross level between the two railway tracks, it was found that the cross level of track no. 3 was low when the incident occurred, and the cross level of track no. 4 was high.
The FIR was registered under sections related to culpable homicide not amounting to murder and act endangering life and personal safety.
THE GOVERNMENT Railway Police (GRP) in its FIR registered against two Central Railway (CR) engineers and other seniors in connection with the Mumbra train accident that caused five deaths in June this year has detailed six reasons behind the action.
The FIR registered by the Thane GRP, citing a report by Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI) and its own officers, states that due to rain on the preceding days of the incident on June 9, the drain choked up and water filled the railway track at Mumbra station, when the gravel under the tracks came out and the ground near the platform sank slightly.
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Information was given to assistant divisional engineer Vishal Dolas and senior section engineer Samar Yadav, who inspected the tracks but did not do the maintenance work. Despite being aware that due to not doing the mentioned maintenance work, both the local trains could come close to each other and cause an accident resulting in loss of life and property, the mentioned work was not completed on time, the FIR stated.
Secondly, on June 6, after heavy rain, Dolas and Yadav after discussing among themselves and with senior divisional engineer Shri Panchal, took a “caution order” to keep the speed limit of local trains at Mumbra station at 75 kmph, even though Indian Railways Schedule of Dimensions stipulates the speed limit to be 69.4 kmph. It was necessary to keep the speed low to work, the FIR stated.
Thirdly, between Diva and Mumbra stations, the train was jerking due to the damage to the tracks. While the track was changed, the welding work was not done to keep the track secure. As a result, there was a gap between the two tracks as one was higher than the other. As a result of this, the two trains came very close to each other.
As the fourth reason, the GRP cites that while the distance between railway tracks No. 3 and 4 on which the two trains involved in the incident were travelling was 4,265 mm, at the points of curvature, the distance between the two tracks should be 4,265+241 mm. However, due to the less distance and the removal of gravel under the tracks, the two trains came close to each other.
The fifth reason cited was that at Mumbra railway station, the track was disturbed during the maintenance and due to the high speed, instead of the speed limit as per the SOD, the trains came close to each other and caused the accident.
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The report mentioned as sixth reason that on checking the height of the cross level between the two railway tracks, it was found that the cross level of track no. 3 was low when the incident occurred, and the cross level of track no. 4 was high. Due to this, the trains on the two lines came close to each other.
The FIR further mentioned, “Thus, according to the information given by the VJTI College team and the investigation conducted by the investigating officer, it has been concluded that the accident occurred due to the failure of the railway officials to carry out the maintenance work on the railway track, despite the awareness that the incoming and outgoing trains could come close to each other and cause an accident, resulting in loss of life and property.”
It added, “Passengers were crushed between the two coaches and their ribs were broken. Eight passengers fell from both the trains, out of which 5 passengers died, 3 were injured after falling on the track, and 6 were injured after falling in the coaches of the trains.”
The FIR was registered under sections related to culpable homicide not amounting to murder and act endangering life and personal safety.
Mohamed Thaver is a highly specialized journalist with the Expertise and Authority required to report on complex law enforcement and legal issues. With a career dedicated to the crime beat for over a decade, his work provides readers with informed and trustworthy insights into Maharashtra's security and justice systems.
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