A freight train derailed near Khandwa railway station on the Mumbai-Delhi route. One coach was left hanging in the air and another was found tilted. Traffic was disrupted for four hours, but there were no casualties. An investigation is underway.
Khandwa: A freight train traveling from Mumbai to Gurugram derailed near the railway station in the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday. While the engine remained safe in the accident, the two coaches immediately behind it went off the tracks. The first coach was left hanging in the air, and the second coach got stuck at an angle. Fortunately, the freight train was completely empty, resulting in no loss of life or property.
Coaches tilted at a railway turning point
The incident occurred at a turning point just before the station. The engine moved forward safely, but the two coaches behind it became unstable while navigating the curve. The first coach dangled in the air, and the second coach became diagonally stuck between the two tracks. According to railway personnel, the sight was quite alarming, and it immediately caused a stir among the railway staff.
A technical team and railway staff reached the spot and assessed the situation. Work was carried out throughout the night to safely remove and re-rail the coaches. Local residents were also frightened by the loud rumbling and heavy noise in the nearby streets.
Atmosphere of panic among passengers and local residents
The accident disrupted traffic on the Mumbai-Delhi rail route. More than half a dozen trains were held at their previous stations throughout the night and until the early hours of the morning. There was an atmosphere of panic among passengers and local residents.
Railway officials clarified that there were no casualties or loss of goods in the accident. The technical team worked all night to remove the obstruction, and traffic on the main route was restored by 5 AM.
Balance lost at the turning point due to length
Railway officials stated that the primary reason for the accident was the unusual length of the coaches. Typically, freight train coaches are up to 17 meters long, while the coaches of this train were 24 meters long. While taking the turn at the turning point, the balance was lost due to their length, causing two coaches to derail.
Experts say that such long coaches lose their balance when taking turns on normal tracks. This is why the engine remained safe, but the rear coaches could not withstand the pressure.
Railway administration orders a full investigation into the accident
Following the incident, the railway administration has ordered a full investigation into the entire event. Senior officials stated that the actual cause of the accident would only be revealed after a technical inquiry.
The railway also mentioned that in the future, increased vigilance would be maintained for long coaches and at points with curves to prevent such accidents.
