'Root Cause Identified, Happened Due to...': Railway Minister On Odisha Train Crash

The “root cause” of the tragic three-train accident in Odisha killing more than 260 people has been identified, Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishaw said on Sunday, adding that the details will be revealed once the commissioner of railway safety submits the report on the cause of the accident.

The change that was made to electronic interlocking which led to the accident has been identified, Vaishnaw said while denying that the incident had anything to do with the anti-collision system "Kavach".

“We have identified the cause of the incident and the people responsible for it... It happened due to a change in electronic interlocking. Right now our focus is on restoration,” Vaishnaw told reporters.

According to the preliminary probe report, a copy of which is with PTI, the signal was given and taken off for the up main line for train number 12841 (Coromandel Express). The train entered the loop line, dashed with the goods train and derailed. In the meantime, train number 12864 (Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express) passed through the down main line and two of its coaches derailed and capsized, the report said.

Vaishnaw, who is on ground zero since Friday night, supervising rescue and relief operations as well as the railway track restoration efforts, said the railway aims to complete restoration work on tracks by Wednesday.

In one of the worst railway tragedies of the country, on Friday night two trains derailed and collided, killing at least 261 people and injuring nearly 1,000 more. The trains that derailed were the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express and Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, while a stationery goods train was also involved in the accident as the Coromandel Express collided with it.

The incident has raised demands for the resignation of Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.