Kanchanjunga Express Accident: Signal was faulty since 5.50 am – sources claim in Kanchanjunga rail accident

West Bengal : Kanchanjunga Express Train Accident :The reason behind the terrible train accident in Darjeeling district of West Bengal will be fully revealed only after a detailed investigation. But at present it is being claimed that the signal between Ranipatara and Chhattar Hat junction near the accident site was out of order since 5:50 am on Monday. This information has been given by news agency PTI quoting railway sources. At least 9 people have died in this accident, while more than 25 people have been injured.

Shocking claim of signal failure

A railway source has revealed that the automatic signalling system had malfunctioned since 5:50 am. Kanchenjunga Express train number 13174 left Rangapani station at 8:27 am and stopped between Ranipatara and Chhatar Haat due to a fault in the automatic signal. According to sources, due to the faulty signal, the station master of Ranipatara issued a written permission letter (TA 912) giving the train authority to cross the railway signal.

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According to the source, at about the same time, a goods train, GFCJ, which had left Rangapani at 8:42 am, reached there and hit the Kanchenjunga Express from behind. In this collision, the guard’s coach, two parcel coaches and a general seating coach of Kanchenjunga were badly damaged. According to the initial statement of the Railway Board, the driver of the goods train violated the signal. 8 people have been confirmed dead in this accident, while local officials say that this number could be up to 15.

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Loco pilot’s fault?

Railway Board Chairperson Jaya Verma Sinha said that the collision happened because the goods train ignored the signal. At the same time, Sanjay Pandhi, Executive President of Indian Railway Loco Runningman Organization (IRLRO), has questioned her statement. He has said that it is not right to blame the loco pilot i.e. the driver of the goods train, even though he has died in the accident and the CRS inquiry is yet to be done.

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The truth will come out in a full investigation

Sources say that only investigation will reveal whether TA 912 was issued to the goods train to cross the faulty signal or not. If the goods train was not issued TA 912 to cross the faulty signal, then its driver should have stopped the train at every faulty signal and the speed of the train should not have been more than 10 kilometers per hour.