Rail Traffic Chart Throws Light On Odisha Rail Crash: Did Coromandel Hit Goods Train Directly?

New Delhi: Indian Railways’ system of tracking rail traffic has thrown some light on the moments before the triple train crash at Bahanaga Bazar in Odisha’s Balasore district on Friday evening.

Around 300 people were killed and over 900 injured in the horrific doubles crash involving the Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express, a goods train and the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express.

The yard layout, or diagram used by railway traffic officers showing tracks in an intersection, indicates the position of the three trains at the time of the accident, NDTV reported.

The middle line in the diagram is the ‘UP Line’, where the Coromandel Express was travelling towards Chennai, according to government sources. The other line marked as ‘DN main’ is where the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express was crossing.

Some coaches of Coromandel Express derailed, after which they hit a goods train on the adjacent tracks. Some of the coaches fell on the ‘DN main’ line.

A few minutes later, the Howrah-bound Bengaluru Superfast rammed headlong into the derailed coaches of Coromandel Express.

Some railway experts are of the opinion that the Coromandel Express may have hit the goods train directly in a ‘loop line’. They point out that visuals show the Coromandel Express’ engine resting on top of the goods train, indicating a straight collision.

A ‘loop line’ divides the main track and returns to the mainline after some distance to help manage busy rail traffic.

A high-powered investigation has been ordered which will look at all angles, including mechanical error, human error and sabotage.