Kolkata:
West Bengal woke up to the news of another train accident on Monday morning, this time in Sainthia near the Jharkhand border. The Uttar Banga Express rammed a stationary Vanachal Express at Sainthi station hitting the rear coaches of the train.
Fifty people are feared dead, the driver of the Uttar Banga Express was killed as was the guard of the Vanachal Express.
Several questions are being raised. Was it a signal error or communication error that caused the accident?
The allowed speed at the time that the Uttar Banga Express entered the station was 20 kmph and the driver may have missed that yellow signal and not reduced speed.
The train was scheduled to arrive at Sainthia at 1.38 am and leave at 1.39 am after a minute's halt, and so should not have been entering the station at a high speed.
Also, it is not clear why the two trains on the same line? The Vanachal Express was running late by several hours and was leaving the station when the collision occurred. So why was the Uttar Banga not switched to another line?
Questions that shall now be answered after the inquiry that shall no doubt be ordered into the tragedy.