Kanchanjunga Express accident: Couldn’t see train due to the line’s curve, says assistant loco pilot
Silguri/Kolkata: The deputy loco driver of the freight train Manu Kumar who escaped the accident with Kanchanjungha Express, is believed to have informed railway officials that both he and the loco pilot were unaware of a second train operating on this same route. A curvature on the track kept them from seeing the Kanchanjungha Express in time to put brakes on and prevent the crash. The line curves around 200m prior to the accident site. The issue was the presence of another train on the track that was adjacent to it. This made it even more difficult for them to identify the stationary train that was on this track.
TNN | Jun 22, 2024, 06.33 PM IST
The freight train for container cargo that co-piloted by him takes around 1km to stop if traveling at 40 km/h. If the track had was flat, Kanchanjungha Express would have been identified before the accident and an appropriate action could be initiated. Kumar said to the authorities that emergency brakes were used, but the force caused the freight train to turn towards Kanchanjungha Express.
Kumar managed to get away during the incident that claimed the life of his co-worker and the guard of a different train, and eight other passengers. He is now in an inpatient hospital that is under strict RPF supervision.
Though he’s yet to appear before the inquiry team headed by the chief commissioner for railway safety, a few railway officials, including nurses, doctors health workers, railway doctors, are talking with him during their visits.
“At times, Kumar has been speaking in fragments revealing certain information. He still seems to be in a daze. We are checking the accuracy of his statements,” an insider told. Kumar suffered injuries to his wrists, legs, shoulder, ribs and lips, and is emotionally devastated, doctors claimed. A psychiatrist also inspected Kumar for mental health issues.
The source stated that Kumar has explained to doctors that when the pilot of the loco attempted applying front brakes Manu attempted to use the brake on his rear, but his attempt came too late.
A railway official that is a member of an team investigating that is headed by the CCRS The officer said that they have not yet able to take Kumar’s statement into account and continue to take statements from railway workers who were involved in the journey of the train between the NJP station as well as the scene of the accident.
GRP Superintendent S Selvamurgan said a forensic team from Kolkata visited the accident site on Friday to collect samples to conduct an independent investigation set up by the special investigation team from GRP.
