Investigation confirms sabotage in Bagmathi Express accident

Forcible removing of fittings within the railway observe led to the rear-end collision of Bagmathi Express with a freight prepare at Kavarapettai railway station in Southern Railway’s #Chennai Division on the evening of October 11, 2024, says the ultimate investigation report of the Commissioner of Railway Safety.

Confirming the sabotage, the report stated removing of fittings and connections at Point No. 51B by “miscreants” led to the collision of Train 12578 Mysuru-Dharbanga Bagmathi Express with the stabled items prepare. Thirteen coaches derailed and an influence automobile went up in flames within the accident that left about 19 passengers injured.

“This occurred not on account of computerized/sudden failure of any tools or property however because of the forceful alteration within the designed place of Left Hand Tongue Rails (which divert a passing prepare from one observe to a different)…,” the report stated.

After the CRS requested the railways to determine weak areas vulnerable to sabotage and guarantee patrolling primarily based on risk ranges, the Railway Board responded by saying that such areas had been already recognized and safety measures, together with set up of surveillance cameras and intelligence gathering, taken in coordination with the railway and native police taken. #Special forces have been deployed in delicate sections and all divisions have been directed to make sure patrolling primarily based on risk perceptions.

Role of insider

The report stated the potential of sabotage involving an insider was a grave matter and the intelligence equipment of the railways ought to develop a mechanism of gathering inputs in that angle. On this be aware, the railways wrote to the CRS saying that the Special Intelligence Branch (SIB) of the #Railway Protection Force (RPF), in coordination with Central and State intelligence businesses, has strengthened safety to stop sabotage, particularly from insiders. SIB items throughout Zonal Railways had been instructed to accentuate intelligence gathering on railway staff, contractual employees and different related personnel.

After the report recommended the nice work of Loco Pilot G. Subramani whose alertness and promptness in making use of emergency brakes decreased the pace of the prepare and consequent impression of the collision, the railways stated his title was beneficial for the ‘Ati Vishisht Rail Seva Puraskar’.

It could also be recalled that sabotage angle was suspected quickly after the accident final yr prompting officers of the #National Investigation Agency to go to the positioning. However, they discovered no materials or every other prima facie proof pointing to sabotage for probing the case additional.