9th April, 2018
Seven Rail Employees in India have been suspended after 22 coaches carrying hundreds of passengers detached from a train and sped backwards for several km in Eastern India.
None of the 500 passengers were injured in the accident, which occurred in Orissa state on Saturday, regional railway spokesperson JP Mishra said Monday.
The runaway coaches rolled back for 13 km before they were brought to an emergency halt by rail staff, who placed rocks on the tracks.
Social media videos broadcast on news channels showed onlookers shouting to alert passengers as the rogue train went past a railway platform.
“The railways has suspended seven employees for lapses as an investigation is underway,’’ Mishra said.
“We will take the strictest action against any negligence endangering safety. We are shocked but we are thankful that a major tragedy has been averted.’’
Officials believed that the staff neglected to apply skid-brakes when a new engine was being attached to the coaches.
The section of the track has a downward slope that made the train roll backward with speed.
As part of their response to the incident, the railways have also ordered a month-long safety campaign to train staff.
Domestic media said two similar incidents were reported in India in 2017.
India’s railways carried an estimated 20 million passengers daily and have a poor safety record.
According to official data, more than 25,000 people have been killed in rail accidents since 2010.