DOT Desk: Amid different theories doing the rounds about the possible reasons for the horrific accident involving three trains near Balasore and the railway ministry maintaining that the exact cause of this unusual crash would be known only after a detailed investigation, one fact stood out — the Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express entered a wrong track moments before the pile-up,repots Dhaka Tribune.
According to the short brief on the accident issued by the railways: “Up train No 12841 (Shalimar-Madras) passing through up main line met with an accident and dashed with a stationary goods train in up loop line at Bahanaga Bazar. The train was going at full speed across the station as it was not supposed to stop at the station. This indicates that Coromandel Express entered the loop line and hit the goods train from the rear.”
The impact was such that 21 coaches of Coromandel Express derailed with three coaches infringing on the parallel main line, colliding with the rear of down train No 12864 Yeshvantpur-Howrah Express which was passing through the station. Two of the coaches of the Howrah-bound train were derailed.
TOI has learnt that the statement of loco pilot of Coromandel Express, who has received injuries, will be crucial in the investigation.