Rail mishap: Wreck no.7 on Didi’s watch

SAINTHIA(WEST BENGAL): Death came at express speed to the sleepy station of Sainthia early Monday when the Uttar Banga Express roared in and crashed into the rear of the Ranchi-bound Vananchal Express , which was about to pull out of the platform. At least 63 people died and more than 150 were injured but what drove home the tragedy’s magnitude was the bizarre sight it threw up — a compartment flung in the air by the impact and landing in a mangled heap on a 25-foot-high road bridge running across the station.

Two adjoining coaches were also badly mangled as the locomotive of Uttar Banga Express ploughed into them. But it was the last compartment — which had a section for unreserved passengers, the luggage brake van and the guard’s cabin — that drove up the toll. As it was tossed into the air by the impact, the undercarriage separated and was smashed under the base of the road bridge by the loco of the Uttar Banga Express.

The wreck severely impacted railway minister Mamata’s Banerjee’s track record on safety. Critics , accusing her of being a “parttime ” minister, demanded she quit. Records showed it was the seventh fatal crash since she was sworn in last May.

In her first remarks, Banerjee screamed ‘‘ sabotage’ ’ but Union home ministry officials later said initial reports had no such indication . The accident happened around 2am at the junction station, which is between Rampurhat and Bolpur in Birbhum district. Given the nature of injuries, officials said the death toll could go up.

FATAL IMPACT

1.53am

3404 Dn Bhagalpur Ranchi Vananchal Express arrives at Sainthia station. Begins to leave a minute later but is halted again for unloading of chilli sacks from the brake-luggage van

2.01am

3184 Dn Cooch Behar-Sealdah Uttar Banga Express, entering the station at high speed, rams into the rear of the stationary Vananchal Exp. Three compartments of Vananchal smashed

At least 63 killed

UNANSWERED QUESTIONS

Was the Uttar Banga Express driver in control?

After stopping at a red signal (Gadadharpur halt) at 1.54am, the train violated a series of signals and entered the station, which was a scheduled stop, at 60kmph. Driver, co-driver found dead in their positions

Did train’s system’s fail?

The train reached a speed of 90kmph on a stretch where permitted limit is 30 kmph

Was it an error by the controller in charge of the approach signal that misled the driver?

Was the signalling equipment tampered with?

However, there is no evidence so far to suggest sabotage

MAJOR MISHAPS UNDER MAMATA

2010

May 28:

Maoists derail Jnaneswari Exp, killing 148 passengers

Jan 16:

Three die as Kalindi Exp and Shram Shakti Exp collide in UP

Jan 2:

Dense fog causes 3 accidents involving 5 trains in UP; 15 die

2009

Nov 14:

Delhi-bound Mandore Exp derails, leaving seven dead near Jaipur

Oct 21:

Goa Exp rams Mewar Exp at Banjana on Mathura-Vrindavan section, killing 22