In the early hours of Sunday, a collision between two goods trains at Ondagram railway station in West Bengal’s Bankura district led to a significant disruption of train services on the Kharagpur-Bankura-Adra line of the South Eastern Railway (SER). This unfortunate incident resulted in the cancellation of at least 20 passengers and Express trains, causing inconvenience to numerous commuters. This article provides a comprehensive account of the incident, its causes, the impact on train services, and the subsequent restoration efforts.
Table of Contents
The Collision
The collision occurred when a freight train, traveling from Bankura to Bishnupur, collided with a stationary freight train positioned on the loop line of Ondagram station. The stationary train, which was facing towards Bishnupur, suffered a forceful impact as the moving freight train rammed into it from behind. The high speed of the approaching train caused its engine to overturn, resulting in the derailment of 13 wagons from both trains.
Safety and Injuries
Fortunately, no injuries were reported in this incident. Railway officials confirmed that all personnel on board the trains were unharmed. The prompt response and adherence to safety protocols ensured the safety of the train staff and prevented potential casualties.
Determining the Cause
The Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) for South Eastern Railway’s Adra Division, Manish Kumar, stated that the accident was primarily caused by the driver’s mistake. It is suspected that the driver fell asleep and failed to observe the red signal instructing him to stop. A detailed investigation will be conducted to ascertain the precise cause of the incident, which will aid in implementing necessary preventive measures.
Disruption of Train Services
As a result of the collision, train services on the Kharagpur-Bankura-Adra line were severely disrupted for approximately four hours. The aftermath of the accident necessitated the cancellation of several passenger and Express trains, causing inconvenience to countless passengers. Among the affected trains were the Santragachi-Purulia Express and the Kharagpur-Hatia Express.
Diversion and Rescheduling
In order to manage the situation, the South Eastern Railway (SER) implemented diversion and rescheduling measures for a few affected trains. The Puri Express was diverted to the Adra-Tata-Hatia line, while the Porbandar-Santragachi Express was redirected to the Purulia-Tata-Khargpur line. Additionally, the Shalimar Udaipur Express, Santragachi-Porbandar Express, and Howrah Pune Azad Hind Express were rescheduled to accommodate the restoration efforts.
Restoration Efforts
Efficient restoration operations were carried out by railway authorities to clear the derailed wagons and repair the damaged infrastructure. The first passenger train to pass through the affected section was the 18011 Howrah-Chakradharpur Express, which resumed its journey at 8:35 am. By 3:15 pm, all lines were fully restored, allowing the resumption of regular train services along the disrupted route.
Comparison to Previous Incidents
It is worth noting that this incident follows a similar train collision that occurred earlier this month at Bahanaga Bazar station in Odisha’s Balasore district. The Balasore incident tragically claimed the lives of 288 individuals and left hundreds injured. While the incident in West Bengal fortunately resulted in no casualties, it serves as a reminder of the importance of ensuring safety measures and diligently addressing issues related to train operations.
Conclusion
The collision between two goods trains at Ondagram railway station in West Bengal’s Bankura district led to a disruption of train services on the Kharagpur-Bankura-Adra line. Although the incident caused inconvenience to passengers and resulted in the cancellation of multiple trains, no injuries were reported. Prompt restoration efforts allowed for the efficient clearing of the affected section and the resumption of train services. Railway authorities will conduct a thorough investigation to determine the exact cause of the collision and prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
Diagram
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