Briefing the media from the accident site, the Railway Minister said that the restoration work is being carried out on a war footing and added that train movement on this line is expected by Wednesday. Based on preliminary findings, the Railway Minister also informed that the accident involving Coromandel Express, Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express and a goods train near Bahanaga station occurred due to a fault in the signal box system, state-run All India Radio reported.
Minister said the Railway Safety Commissioner was now conducting a high-level inquiry into the derailment and the facts would be known soon. Railway sources said all 21 coaches that capsized in the derailment have been removed from the tracks. Wheel sets and other components were also being removed from the site. More than seven Poclain machines, two rescue trains, four road trains and safety cranes have been deployed, and more than a thousand people are working tirelessly to restore normalcy to the line.
Tragic incident occurred in the eastern Indian state of Orissa on Friday (read more). Two passenger trains collided. Almost 300 people have died and around 900 have been injured.
