How the India Train Crash Unfolded
Bahanaga Bahanaga Bazar rail station Site of initial impact Coromandel Express passenger train Freight train carrying iron ore Bahanaga Bahanaga Bazar rail station Site of initial impact Coromandel Express passenger train Freight train carrying iron ore Bahanaga Bahanaga Bazar rail station Site of initial impact Freight train carrying iron ore Coromandel Express passenger train The New York Times; aerial drone image via Reuters
Investigators of the deadly multi-train crash in India have focused on the possibility that it was caused by an electronic signal system failure. Here’s how officials say the disaster unfolded.
1 Two passenger trains approach
◀ South to Chennai North to Kolkata ▶ Other freight train Second passenger train Coromandel Express Freight train with iron ore ◀ South to Chennai North to Kolkata ▶ Other freight train Second passenger train Coromandel Express Freight train with iron ore
At around 7 p.m. local time, the Coromandel Express passenger train approached from the north at a speed of about 80 miles per hour. A second passenger train, the Yesvantpur-Howrah Superfast Express, approached from the south at about the same time.
2 Coromandel Express veers onto occupied track
Other freight train Second passenger train (exact position unknown) Possible signal system failure Coromandel Express Freight train with iron ore Second passenger train (exact position unknown) Other freight train Coromandel Express Possible signal system failure Freight train with iron ore
The Coromandel Express veered onto an adjacent track occupied by an idled freight train that was loaded with iron ore. An Indian Railways official said that a problem with the signal system was most likely the overall cause of the crash, though investigations were still underway.
3 First passenger train collides with freight train
Other freight train Second passenger train (exact position unknown) Coromandel Express Freight train with iron ore Collision Second passenger train (exact position unknown) Other freight train Coromandel Express Freight train with Iron ore Collision
The Coromandel Express collides with the freight train. The cars at the front of the Coromandel jump off their tracks and form a mangled pile. More than 20 cars from the Coromandel are derailed.
4 Second passenger train is hit
Other freight train Second passenger train Freight train with iron ore Derailed cars strike second passenger train Coromandel Express Other freight train Freight train with Iron ore Derailed cars strike second passenger train
The derailed cars from the Coromandel Express strike the second passenger train as it passes, causing two cars at the end of the second passenger train to derail.
The accident scene stretched more than a thousand feet.
Source: The New York Times
