NEW DELHI: A major mishap was averted on Wednesday when the front bogie of a Delhi Metro running from Dwarka to Yamuna Bank derailed. Preliminary inquiries revealed that the incident occurred because of the train operator’s negligence. He has been suspended.
The mishap occurred at 3.20 p.m. when train no. 5015 starting from the down platform of Dwarka station and going towards Yamuna Bank, overshot the signal while changing tracks. Four wheels of the front bogie, D-313, burst through the point, derailed and travelled about 30 metres.
The train operator did not wait for the tracks to be ready before crossing over.
“Did not wait”
“Prima facie, the cause of derailment appears to be the train operator starting the train on manual mode without waiting for the ATP (Advanced Technology Programme) actualisation and crossed the signal when it was red,” said a DMRC spokesperson.
He said there were no injuries to either the passengers or the metro staff.
“Since the train had just started from Dwarka station, there were only 34 passengers on board. The passengers were evacuated and led safely to the station,” said a DMRC official.
Metro officials said there was no serious damage to the track, overhead traction or the train, as the front wheels came less than six inches off the track.
A 12-member rescue team was called from Najafgarh depot. It put the derailed bogie back on track after nearly three hours.
“Four sets of hydraulic jacks were used to put the front bogie of the train back on rail. The jacks were operated using portable gensets to lift the 40-tonne Metro coach,” said a DMRC official.
Train movement was affected and operations were run on a single line during this time. Some Dwarka-bound trains from Yamuna Bank had to be reversed from Janakpuri (West). Normal operations were not restored till after 7 p.m.
The train has been sent to the Najafgarh depot for further checks, and a high-level committee, comprising three general manager rank officers, has been constituted to enquire into the mishap.
Referring to the train operator, the spokesperson said: “He has been placed under suspension and is being questioned. He has been working trains independently since September 2008 and this was his first trip for the day.”
“Serious lapse”
The operator had started his shift at 2.55 p.m., he said, ruling out that he was over-worked or tired. Sources however told The Hindu that the incident was a “serious lapse” that could have resulted in a “major disaster.”
“The Metro trains are not run on manual mode. The operator is there just to observe while the trains are run on automatic mode. In this case, the operator did not honour the signal, which, in the railway procedures, is a serious lapse. It could have led to a major tragedy if there was another train coming in from the opposite end.”
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