Another train accident left several people to mourn on the dead and injured
CHENNAI: In a train mishap near Chennai last night Nine people have died and close to 100 are injured, 25 of them seriously.
Preliminary investigation has found that it took place due to over-speeding of the EMU train which rammed into a stationary train, said Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi.
Trivedi, who arrived here from Delhi along with a team of railway officials, said that a comprehensive probe would be launched to ascertain if the accident occurred due to human error or technical fault.
He said preliminary investigation had revealed that it was due to over speeding of the EMU train which rammed into the stationary train and termed it unfortunate.
He has also revealed that the train driver was not under the influence of alcohol and has taken rest of sixteen hours before the duty.
The team also visited about 30 injured, admitted to Government General Hospital in Chennai before leaving for the accident site.
The accident happened late last night near the Chitheri station, about 90 kms from Chennai.
During the year 2010-2011, 250 people have been died in 93 train accidents while 18 of the 21 train accidents between April and July 2011 have been due to failure of railway staff. Railway staffs have been blamed for 90 per cent of the avoidable accidents and Government reports show that the railways have a shortage 16,000 locomotive drivers and 50,000 gangmen.
(News Editor- Naushin Fatima Khan)
