West Bengal train accident: Railway source confirms signal fault from 5:50 am onwards

New Delhi: The automatic signalling system between Ranipatra Railway Station and Chattar Hat Junction in West Bengal has been reported defective since 5:50 am, according to a railway source. This defect resulted in a goods train colliding with the Sealdah Kanchanjungha Express.

Train No. 13174 (Sealdah Kanchanjungha Express) departed from Rangapani station at 8:27 am but had to halt between Ranipatra and Chattar Hat due to the signalling failure. In such instances, the station master issues a written authority known as TA 912, permitting the driver to pass all red signals in the affected section. The station master of Ranipatra issued TA 912 to Train No. 13174.

"Around the same time, a goods train, GFCJ, departed Rangapani at 8:42 am and collided with 13174 from behind, causing the derailment of the guard's coach, two parcel coaches, and a general seating coach," said a source.

Initially, the Railway Board stated that the goods train driver disregarded the signal, with the death toll reported as five, although some local officials suggested it could be as high as 15.

An investigation is necessary to determine whether the goods train also received TA 912 or if the driver neglected the protocol for defective signals, which requires stopping for one minute at each defective signal and proceeding at 10 kmph.

The loco pilots' union criticized the Railway Board for blaming the deceased driver before completing the investigation. Sanjay Pandhi, the working president of the Indian Railway Loco Running Man Organisation (IRLRO), called it "highly objectionable" to hold the deceased driver responsible before the inquiry.

Railway Board Chairperson Jaya Varma Sinha stated that the collision occurred because the goods train disregarded the signal and collided with the Kanchanjungha Express, which was traveling from Agartala to Sealdah. PTI