Rail fractures suspected cause for Mangla Express derailment: Sources

NEW DELHI: Multiple fractures on the rail track are suspected to be the cause of today's derailment of Mangla Express near Nashik claiming three lives and injuring 37.

Prime facie it seems to be a case of multiple fractures on the track which caused the derailment of coaches, railway sources said. The train was reportedly running at about 100 kmph.

The mishap took place at around 6.20 AM when the Nizamuddin-Ernakulam Lakshadeep Mangala Express train was passing through the Ghoti-Igatpuri section, about 35 kms from Nashik.

However, Chairman Railway Board Arunendra Kumar said, "The cause of the derailment will be ascertained only after the inquiry. Railway Commissioner for Safety has been asked to conduct the probe."

Asked about the possibility of rail fractures as primary cause for the derailment, Kumar said, "Nothing can be said at this moment. It is being investigated and all factors are to be looked into...You have to analyse everything."

Terming the incident as "unfortunate", he said, "The toll has gone up to three and normal ex-gratia shall be paid to victims."

Train operations have been affected on the route after the derailment and several trains were cancelled and diverted.

Asked when the train operations would resume, he said, "Senior officials, including medical teams, have rushed to the spot and rescue and restoration works are going on. Train running is expected to resume by midnight."

The Central Railway has set up a helpline number to reply to queries for anxious relatives and kin of the passengers.