The railways were yet to ascertain the reason for nine coaches of Duronto express derailing on early Saturday near Kalaburgi in north Karnataka, an official said on Sunday.
“We are yet to establish the cause of derailment, as its investigation is underway and engine driver is being interrogated by the safety commissioner,” Central Railway’s Solapur division Additional Manager K. Madhusudan told IANS.
Two women passengers died and eight others were injured in the derailment of the speeding 12220 Dn Secunderabad-Mumbai express near Martur station between Wadi and Kalaburgi, about 630 km from Bengaluru, in the early hours.
“Railway Safety Commissioner D.K. Singh visited the spot of the accident earlier in the day and inspected the track and the derailed coaches at the yard for investigation, based on material evidence collected at the site, including a portion of the broad gauge line that gave resulting in the derailment,” Madhusadan said.
Singh will hold two-day public inquiry on September 15-16 at Kalaburgi into the accident and submit the probe report soon based on investigation, deposition by the public, including passengers who were onboard the train.
Meanwhile, the zonal railway restored traffic on the high density trunk route after rescue and relief operations were carried out and the track was repaired.
Preliminary investigation by the district police ruled out sabotage behind the incident.
As a non-stop superfast express, the fully air-conditioned Duronto (12990) was passing through at 110 km speed when the derailment happened in the dark.
The two victims were identified as Jyothi Shankar (46) and Pushpalatha Harish (26), travelling to Pune from Secunderabad.
“Though first seven coaches from engine passed safely, nine coaches, including pantry car and generator car derailed while the remaining four coaches in the rear were stranded on track,” Madhusudan said.
(IANS)