Bihar train accident: Preliminary probe suggests fault in tracks likely cause for derailment of North East Express

The possible cause of the derailment of the Delhi-Kamakhya North East Express in Bihar could be attributed to a fault in the tracks, sources told PTI on Thursday citing a preliminary investigation report. At least four people died and several were injured when 12506 North East Express derailed near Raghunathpur in Bihar’s Buxar district on Wednesday night. According to the report signed by six railway officials including the driver of the ill-fated train, stated, “It seems that derailment occurred due to fault in tracks.“It estimated the cost of damage due to the accident at more than Rs 52 crore. The loco pilot was partially injured and his assistant suffered serious injuries in the accident on Wednesday night. The report also contained a statement by the loco pilot who said that the train passed Raghunathpur station, near which the accident occurred, at a speed of 128 km per hour, but soon after it crossed the station section it suffered a severe jolt at the rear end with excessive vibration. As a result of the excessive vibration and the severe jolt, the brake pipe pressure dropped suddenly and the train derailed at 9:52 pm, the preliminary report quoted the loco pilot as saying. It also quoted a gateman and a pointsman at the Raghunathpur station as saying that they saw sparks coming from near the wheels of the train. The report stated a breath analyser test of the loco pilot and his assistant was negative. All 21 coaches of the North-East Express train, on its way to Assam state from New Delhi, derailed near Raghunathpur railroad station in Buxar district of Bihar state, Magistrate Anshul Agarwal said. Two of them overturned and rested on their sides. Local residents rushed to the scene and helped passengers exit the derailed coaches. Ambulances later arrived and hospitals were alerted to receive injured passengers, police officer Deepak Kumar said. With inputs from agencies.