‘No Terror Angle, Sabotage’: Technical Issues May Have Led To Mysuru-Darbhanga Train Collision, Say NIA Sources

Technical issues probably led to the Mysuru-Darbhanga Bagmati Express (Train No. 12578) derailing on Friday night following a collision with a stationary goods train at Kavaraippettai railway station near Chennai, sources in the National Investigation Agency (NIA) said, ruling out the terror angle or sabotage.

No fatalities were reported and the 19 injured passengers were taken to the nearby hospitals for treatment, said officials, adding that three were in critical condition.

The accident occurred at 8.30pm on the Chennai-Gudur section, between Ponneri and Kavaraippettai stations, causing massive damage to both trains. A few trains including Dhanbad-Alappuzha Express and Jabalpur-Madurai Superfast Special Train were diverted due to restoration work at the accident site.

Sources said thorough investigations had suggested no terror or sabotage angle and there was no alert or Intelligence input that some terror organisation would try and derail the train.

Speaking about the agency’s visit to the spot, sources termed it routine in nature and said it was a part of their SOP.

“NIA will definitely look into this with their perspective but there is no information on any attempt to derail this under any conspiracy,” they added.

RN Singh, General Manager of Southern Railways, had earlier said the passenger train was not supposed to enter the loop line where a goods train was stationed. After leaving Chennai, the signals for the Mysuru-Darbhanga Express were correctly followed by the driver, he added.

He further said that despite having a green signal for the main line, the train entered the loop line and hit the goods train from behind, causing the derailment of its 12 coaches and injuries of passengers.

“The passenger train was supposed to pass via the main line…But despite having signals for the main line the train entered the loop line. It hit the goods train from behind and because of this engine derailed. The pilot and loco pilot are hale and hearty. Fortunately, there was no death. The injured were immediately moved to the nearby hospital,” he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.