Inquiry begins to find trigger for freak Jalgaon train tragedy

A curve on the tracks was likely one of the main factors behind the freak Jalgaon train incident, as it obstructed the line of sight of one of the drivers and limited the time he had to apply emergency brakes, officials aware of the matter said on Thursday as authorities began investigating the trigger for the incident.

- Neha LM Tripathi

NEW DELHI: A curve on the tracks was likely one of the main factors behind the freak Jalgaon train incident, as it obstructed the line of sight of one of the drivers and limited the time he had to apply emergency brakes, officials aware of the matter said on Thursday as authorities began investigating the trigger for the incident.

At least 12 people were killed and 10 others injured on Wednesday after they jumped off the Mumbai-bound Pushpak Express amid rumours of a fire in a coach and were mowed down by the Karnataka Express running towards Delhi on the adjacent tracks.

Officials aware of the investigation said that the Pushpak Express halted between the Maheji and Pardhade stations, at a spot close to a curve on the tracks, after the passengers pulled the alarm chain. As per the protocols, the train's driver turned on the emergency warning light, known as the flasher light, but the driver of the oncoming Karnataka Express did not spot it on time because of the bend in the tracks, they added.