‘Coromandel entered loop line after green signal’: Railway Board explains sequence of events leading to Odisha train tragedy

They said that the functioning of the interlocking system prima facie seemed to have been part of the problem which led to the accident. Sinha said the direction, route and signal were set for the Coromandel Express.

“Green signal means that in every way, the driver knows that his path ahead is clear and he can go forward with his permitted maximum speed. The permitted speed at this section was 130 kmph and he was running his train at 128 kmph which we have confirmed from loco logs,” she said.

The Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express train was running at a speed of 126 kmph, the officials informed. “In both the trains, there was no question of over-speeding. Preliminary finding has found that there is a signalling issue,” Sinha said.

“Only one train was involved in the accident, it was the Coromandel Express. The Coromandel Express crashed with the goods train and its coaches went on top of the goods train. It was an iron ore-laden train, a heavy train, therefore the entire impact of the collision was on the train,” she added.

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Rescue operation underway following an accident involving Coromandel Express, Bengaluru-Howrah Express and a goods train, in Balasore district, Saturday, June 3, 2023. (PTI)

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At least 238 people have been killed, and over 900 injured (Photo : Reuters)

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Rescue teams search the wreckage of the trains during a rescue operation after the triple train mishap, in Balasore district. (Express Photo by Partha Paul)

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The accident took place at 7 am yesterday when a passenger train hit the derailed coaches of another train followed by a collision with a goods train causing a crash of several coaches. (Express Photo by Partha Paul)

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Visuals from the crash site showed smashed train coaches torn open and twisted train tracks. (Express Photo by Partha Paul)

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NDRF personnel carry out rescue work (PTI Photo)

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People, who were injured in trains collision, lie in a hospital corridor in Balasore district in the eastern state of Odisha, India, June 3, 2023. REUTERS

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Union Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw overseeing the restoration work at the accident spot. (Express photo by Partha Paul)

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Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik meets an injured at a hospital in Balasore (PTI)

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An official gives a demonstration about the Odisha train accident as Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairs a meeting to take the stock of situation after the mishap, in New Delhi, Saturday, June 3, 2023. (PTI Photo)

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi takes stock of the situation at the site of the accident in Balasore district, Saturday, June 3, 2023. Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is also seen. (PTI Photo)

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Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya meets an injured at Capital Hospital following Friday's accident involving three trains, in Bhubaneswar. (PTI)

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Emergency helpline number has been released by the Odisha Government ( Photo : PTI)

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People look at pictures to identify the bodies of victims of a train collision, at a temporary mortuary created in a business park, following the train collision in Balasore district in Odisha. (Reuters)

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Frantic family members throng Bahanaga high school, speak with authorities in a desperate attempt to identify the dead bodies. (Express photo by Partha Paul)

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Sheikh Abdul Wahab of South 24 parganas district is doing rounds of the bodies with the picture of his brother Md Giasuddin Sheikh who was travelling to Chennai to work as a mason. (Express photo by Partha Paul)

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Disaster Response Force personnel at Chennai Central railway station, where a special train carrying passengers injured in an accident involving three trains arrived at the station on Sunday. (PTI)

Earlier in the day, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the root cause of the train accident and the people responsible for it have been identified, adding that the inquiry report of the Commissioner of Railway Safety would be known soon.

In an interview to state-owned broadcaster Doordarshan Sunday morning at the site of the accident incident, Vaishnaw said, “The Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) was at the site yesterday… CRS has taken statements from all people, and has proceeded fast. The root cause has been identified – people who have done this work have also been identified. The CRS inquiry report – the reason why the accident happened will also be known early.”

To a question whether he could comment if the accident happened due to a technical or human error or because of anti-social elements, Vaishnaw said, “It is not right to comment on this… it is possible to comment, but not proper… I can say only after the independent agency (CRS) submits its report. But the probe is over…”

(With inputs from PTI)