Preliminary reports say a signal failure led to the train collision that killed at least 275 people
A massive rescue operation, involving the national disaster response force and hundreds of volunteers, continued for two days to pull survivors and bodies from the wreckage. Since then, relatives have struggled to locate the bodies of their loved ones, many whom were badly disfigured. More than 100 bodies had yet to be identified by Monday.
This system is in use across India’s entire 64,000km network. On Monday, the railway board ordered a widespread examination of the signalling system, with different zones required to submit safety reports by next week. Visiting the site on Saturday, the prime minister, Narendra Modi, vowed that “those found guilty will be severely punished”. The railways board has launched an investigation into the disaster.Political opponents accused the Modi government of trying to shift focus on to an investigation into criminal negligence by an individual, rather than shouldering responsibility for the disaster and examining safety issues on the railway network.
The principal chief operations manager of south western railway had raised concerns over the failure at the time. In an internal letter sent to the railways minister, he warned there were “serious flaws in the system” and said “immediate corrective measures are required to rectify the system faults and sensitising the staff for not venturing into shortcuts leading to major mishap”.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Indian Prime Minister promises ‘harshest penalty’ for train crash cause“I was standing near the doors when the two carriages crushed us.' India's Prime Minister has promised the 'harshest penalty' for those responsible for the deadliest rail crash in decades.
Read more »
New York handed Carlow trip in Tailteann Cup preliminary quarter-finalsNew York's history-making footballers will travel to Carlow next weekend in the preliminary quarter-finals of the Tailteann Cup
Read more »
India train crash: Death toll reaches 288, with more than 850 injuredCollision of two passenger trains in Odisha is India’s deadliest rail incident in more than two decades
Read more »
India train crash: Signalling error blamed as death toll passes 300India’s railways minister says an error in the electric system led to one of the country’s deadliest rail accidents in decades.
Read more »
Police in the North appeal for witnesses after train station fight involving up to 20 peopleA local councillor described the incident which left a 14-year-old requiring hospital treatment as a 'gruesome attack'.
Read more »
Extract: Life and death in a Dublin tenement - 'finding rent was a struggle'Irish history: Tim Murtagh shares an extract from his new book, Spectral Mansions which documents the lives of those living in Dublin tenements over 100 years ago...
Read more »