| Sainthia train collision | |
|---|---|
| Details | |
| Date | 19 July 2010 02:00 (IST, UTC+05:30) |
| Location | Sainthia Junction railway station, Sainthia, Birbhum, West Bengal |
| Country | India |
| Operator | Indian Railways |
| Incident type | Rear-end collision |
| Statistics | |
| Trains | 2 |
| Deaths | 66 |
| Injured | 165 |
The Sainthia train collision occurred on 19 July 2010, at the Sainthia Junction railway station in Sainthia, India, when the Uttar Banga Express [1] [2] [3] collided with the Vananchal Express as the latter was leaving the platform. 66 people died as a result of the accident, [4] and 165 were reported injured. [5]
The collision occurred 191 km from Kolkata at 02:00 am (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. [5] The Home Minister stressed the need for a much faster response to such accidents. [6]
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. [7] The possibility of the two drivers of Uttar Banga Express being drugged had triggered alarm in the railways. [8] However, the post mortem of the drivers at the Suri hospital did not show any evidence of drugs. [9] As a precaution, drivers and guards have been asked not to buy any food or drink at stations. [8]
Sainthia railway station was a scheduled stop for the express, but the train is believed to have passed over a bridge 1.2 km before the accident at three times the line speed. [10] 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, 7 km ahead of the accident site. [11] 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. [12]
The enquiry has found no fault with the train's brakes [10] 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. [13] Also there was no signal failure, the approach signal was red. [10] 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. [8] It was too late to operate points and divert the train when the Uttar Banga Express was seen. [11]
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". [8]
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. [14]
The Thirsk rail crash occurred on 31 July 1967 at Thirsk, Yorkshire, England on the British Rail East Coast Main Line.
There have been a number of train accidents on the railway network of Victoria, Australia. Some of these are listed below.
The railways of New South Wales, Australia have had many incidents and accidents since their formation in 1831. There are close to 1000 names associated with rail-related deaths in NSW on the walls of the Australian Railway Monument in Werris Creek. Those killed were all employees of various NSW railways. The details below include deaths of employees and the general public.
The Mathura train collision occurred at 05:00 local time in dark conditions near Mathura, in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India, on Wednesday, 20 October 2009. At least ten people were initially feared dead in the incident. It occurred when the Goa Express rammed into the stationary Mewar Express from behind at an outer signal, about 3 km from outer Mathura. Both the trains were headed for Delhi. Further details suggested that the death toll crossed 20.
On 28 May 2010, a Jnaneshwari Express train derailed at about 1 a.m. in the West Midnapore district of West Bengal, India. It was disputed as to whether sabotage or a bomb caused damage on the railway track, which in turn led to the derailment, before an oncoming goods train hit the loose carriages, resulting in the deaths of at least 148 passengers.
The Slough rail accident happened on 16 June 1900 at Slough railway station on the Great Western Main Line when an express train from London Paddington to Falmouth Docks ran through two sets of signals at danger, and collided with a local train heading for Windsor & Eton Central. Five passengers were killed; 35 were seriously injured, and 90 complained of shock or minor injuries
The Penukonda train collision occurred in the early hours of 22 May 2012, when the Bangalore bound Hampi Express crashed into a stationary freight train near Penukonda, in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The incident killed 25 people while 43 people were injured. Three coaches derailed as a result of the crash while another caught fire. The fire was brought under control and rescue and relief operations started in a couple of hours. Railway Minister Mukul Roy, who was in Kolkata, rushed to the site of the accident and ordered an inquiry into it. Early reports suggested that Hampi Express overshot a signal and collided with a stationary goods train. Roy also announced a compensation of Rs 500,000 to the next of kin of the deceased, Rs 100,000 for those who sustained grievous injuries and Rs 50,000 to those who received minor injuries.
Sainthia Junction railway station is one of the oldest stations in India serves Sainthia city of Birbhum district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is a "NSG-5" category railway station. The railway station is under the administrative control of Howrah division of Eastern Railway. Sainthia Junction comes under the jurisdiction of Sainthia GRP Police Station. There is a total of 54 train arrivals and departures per day happening at this railway station. Sainthia Junction the 3rd busiest railway station in Birbhum district. This railway station is the busiest "NSG-5" category railway station in Howrah division and 6th busiest in all of NSG category railway stations in Howrah division. It also serves as the originating station of 4 important trains. In this station the famous Sainthia train collision took place between Uttar Banga Express and Vananchal Express
The Paharia Express is an express train connecting Indian cities Siliguri and Digha. This is the first direct train service originating from New Jalpaiguri (Siliguri) to Digha Flag Station. This train connects North and South of West Bengal touching Bihar and West Bengal state capital Kolkata. This train runs on the Kolkata–Siliguri route.
The 13147 / 13148 Sealdah–Bamanhat Uttar Banga Express is a daily non-superfast train that runs between Sealdah & Bamanhat via Dakshineswar, Barddhaman, Bolpur, Malda Town, New Jalpaiguri, Falakata, New Cooch Behar & Dinhata. Uttar Banga Express was one of the two trains involved in the famous Sainthia train collision at Sainthia, West Bengal.
The 2015 Uttar Pradesh train accident occurred on 20 March 2015. The Dehradun Varanasi Janata Express derailed near Bachhrawan in Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh, northern India, resulting in at least 58 deaths and 150 people being injured. The accident was attributed to brake failure.
Siuri railway station is one of the major railway stations on Andal–Sainthia branch line under Asansol railway division. It serves Suri, the district Headquarters of Birbhum district in the Indian state of West Bengal, and the adjoining villages. The railway station is owned by Indian Railways and operated by Eastern Railway. A total number of 24 trains runs via Siuri. 2 trains terminates at Siuri and 2 trains originates from Siuri. This makes Siuri railway station the 7th busiest railway station in Birbhum district. Pilgrims and travellers visiting Bakreshwar Temple and hot springs in the village of Bakreshwar and Data Babar Mazaar in the village of Patharchapuri use this station.
The Vananchal Express is an Express train belonging to Eastern Railway zone that runs between Ranchi Junction and Bhagalpur Junction in India. It is currently being operated with 13403/13404 train numbers on a daily basis. this train is also remembered for the famous Sainthia train collision.
The 13045/13046 Mayurakshi Express is a daily Intercity Express train belonging to Indian Railways – Eastern Railway zone that runs between Howrah & Dumka via Andal Junction, Rampurhat Junction in the Indian state of West Bengal.
On 13 January 2022, the Bikaner–Guwahati Express train derailed near Domohani, Maynaguri, Jalpaiguri district, West Bengal. Nine people were killed and 50 people were injured. This was the first major train derailment in 2022, and the first in India since the Seemanchal Express derailment in Bihar in February 2019.
On June 2, 2023, three trains collided in Balasore district in Odisha state of eastern India. The Coromandel Express entered the passing loop instead of the main line near Bahanaga Bazar railway station at full speed and collided with a goods train. Due to the high speed of the Coromandel Express, its 21 coaches derailed and three of those collided with the oncoming SMVT Bengaluru–Howrah Superfast Express on the adjacent track.