Sainthia train collision

The Sainthia train collision occurred on 19 July 2010, at the Sainthia Junction railway station in Sainthia, India, when the Uttar Banga Express collided with the Vananchal Express as the latter was leaving the platform. 66 people died as a result of the accident,Sainthia train mishap toll rises to 66Rediff News, 2010 and 165 were reported injured.61 dead in India train crash

Collision The collision occurred 191 km from Kolkata at (IST) when the Uttar Banga Express, travelling from New Cooch Behar to Sealdah, hit the Bhagalpur – Ranchi Vananchal Express which was just leaving Sainthia railway station. The impact destroyed the 3 rear compartments of the Vananchal Express.

The injured were sent to hospitals in Sainthia and Suri. The Home Minister stressed the need for a much faster response to such accidents.Blame game still on over Sainthia train crash IBN Live, 2010

Investigation Railway officials initially described how there may have been something wrong with the drivers of the Uttar Banga Express, detailing how the train had passed through a red signal at high speed, with no evidence of a brake application and with no apparent attempt by the driver or co-driver to jump clear of the train cab before the collision. Both were found dead in the wreckage, still in their seats.Railways blame human error for mishap Hindustan Times, 2010 The possibility of the two drivers of Uttar Banga Express being drugged had triggered alarm in the railways. The Telegraph, 2010 However, the post mortem of the drivers at the Suri hospital did not show any evidence of drugs.Train accident probe focuses on drivers Asia News Network, 2010 As a precaution, drivers and guards have been asked not to buy any food or drink at stations.

Sainthia railway station was a scheduled stop for the express, but the train is believed to have passed over a bridge before the accident at three times the line speed. The Telegraph, 2010 The crew had taken charge of the train at Malda Town 5 hours before the accident, and had appeared fit and well to station staff during a previous unscheduled stop at Gadadharpur, ahead of the accident site.West Bengal train collision: A 9-min, 7-km mystery Hindustan Times, 2010 The signalman in-charge at the station claimed to have heard the station master trying to alert the driver of the Uttar Banga Express via walkie-talkie, but got no response.Bengal train accident: 'Station master tried to alert driver' NDTV, 2010

The enquiry has found no fault with the train's brakes although, the guard, when questioned said that he had applied the emergency brake after the driver did not respond to him on the walkie-talkie, but the brake failed. Hindustan Times, 2010 Also there was no signal failure, the approach signal was red. Probable causal factors found are the drugging of the drivers and not setting a diversion route when the Vananchal Express was standing at the platform. It was too late to operate points and divert the train when the Uttar Banga Express was seen.

The driver of the Vananchal Express, said that "even though the green signal was given at 1:54 a.m., we could start the train only at 2:01 a.m. because we had not received any signal from the guard".

Compensation Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced compensation of a total of ₹500,000 for the dead, ₹100,000 for the seriously injured, and ₹25,000 for minor injuries.Rs 5 lakh, job to kin of dead in accident: Mamata Times of India, 19 July 2010

Sainthia train collision

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