Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, along with Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan visited the Bahanaga train accident site today to take stock of the restoration work. Informing media from the accident site, the Railway Minister said restoration work is being undertaken on a war footing, adding that train movement in this route will be expected by Wednesday. Based on the preliminary findings, Railway Minister also informed that the accident involving Coromandel Express, Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, and a goods train near Bahanaga station occurred due to a fault in the interlocking system.
Mr. Vaishnaw said the Commissioner of Railway Safety is now conducting a high-level probe into the derailment, and the fact will come out soon. Railways sources said all 21 coaches, which had capsized due to the derailment, have been removed from the tracks. In addition, wheelsets and other components were being cleared from the accident site. It said more than seven Poclain machines, two accident relief trains, four road railways, and safety cranes are deployed, and a thousand-plus workforce is working tirelessly to restore normalcy in this train route. In the meantime, the railways have deployed three special trains, one from Bhadrak to Chennai and two from Howrah to Balasore. The train will have a parcel van attached to carry bodies if required and stoppages at all major stations en route.
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