Passengers escapes train accident as carriages rolls back in India
Mon Apr 09, 2018 08:41:am World
4.3K By franklyn Anude
In the eastern Indian state of Orissa, about 1000 passengers escaped been hurt in a train accident after 22 carriages conveying them, detached from a train and sped backwards for 11km.
Some railway staff halted the detached carriages by placing rocks on the railway tracks, effectively ensuring all passengers onboard alighted safely without any injuring.
A mobile phone video recording of the incident showed onlookers screaming as the carriages rolled backwards and past a railway platform.
The incident has led to the suspension of seven employees, for allegedly not following protocol, as officials believe the brakes required to be applied whenever a carriage is detached, were incorrectly done or overlooked.
JP Mishra, spokesperson for the railway ministry, told AFP news agency an investigation has been launched.
"Something ghastly could have happened and it was averted by alert staff," Mr Mishra said.
India is home to about 9,000 trains and more than 22 million people commute daily by train. Incidents of similar nature are recurring events in the country where much of the equipment used is out of date.
Some railway staff halted the detached carriages by placing rocks on the railway tracks, effectively ensuring all passengers onboard alighted safely without any injuring.
A mobile phone video recording of the incident showed onlookers screaming as the carriages rolled backwards and past a railway platform.
The incident has led to the suspension of seven employees, for allegedly not following protocol, as officials believe the brakes required to be applied whenever a carriage is detached, were incorrectly done or overlooked.
JP Mishra, spokesperson for the railway ministry, told AFP news agency an investigation has been launched.
"Something ghastly could have happened and it was averted by alert staff," Mr Mishra said.
India is home to about 9,000 trains and more than 22 million people commute daily by train. Incidents of similar nature are recurring events in the country where much of the equipment used is out of date.
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