Even as S.K. Mittal, Commissioner of Railway Safety, Southern Circle on Tuesday began an enquiry into the accident of the Bengaluru-Ernakulam Intercity Express, a highly-placed source in the Railways pointed out that a “reduced speed limit” in the sector could have made the stretch safer and possibly “averted” the tragedy.
The limit for loco pilots on the Anekal-Hosur stretch, a distance of 13 km, is 80 kilometres per hour (kmph).
While the ill-fated train was moving well within the specified speed limit, the source said, “The stipulated limit should have been much slower, especially after a track fault was reported by another loco pilot the day before the accident.”
The source pointed out that loco pilot Durgesh Kumar C. had identified a track fault, very close to the accident spot, and reported the same to the officials concerned. Following this, the fault was fixed and a “fit to run” instruction was issued. However, it may have helped if the “speed limit had been lowered and the track kept under observation”.
Anil Agarwal, Divisional Railway Manager, South Western Railway, Bangalore, said, “I do not want to comment on it. We can’t say anything until the cause of the accident is ascertained”.
While S.K. Mittal, Commissioner of Railway Safety, Southern Circle, who is heading the probe, refused to comment on the reasons he said 22 persons were examined on the first day of the enquiry.
He also added that “No one from the public appeared despite. Public should come forward to help us.” He said that a preliminary report, based on the details collected, would be sent to the Railway Board in a month’s time followed by a detailed report after six months.
