Kavarapettai train accident | Alertness of loco pilot minimised impact of collision

A file photo of the Mysuru-Darbhanga Bagmati Express rammed into a stationary goods train due to signal failure at Kavaraipettai Railway station in the Chennai Division of Southern Railway.
| Photo Credit: The Hindu

Timely application of emergency brakes by the Loco Pilot of Train 12578 Mysuru-Dharbhanga Bagmati Express probably saved many lives when the train collided with a stationary goods train at Kavarapettai in Southern Railway on October 11, 2024.

In his preliminary report, the Commissioner of Railway Safety who investigated the circumstances that led to the rear-end collision brought on record the good work of loco lilot G. Subramani. He said the Loco Pilot “has shown outstanding alertness and promptness in applying emergency brakes – this reduced the speed of train and the consequent impact of the collision.”

He wrote to the Ministry of Railways saying that the commendable action (of Mr Subramani) may be suitably recognized by the Railway. In a letter addressed to the General Manager, Southern Railway, the Railway Board called for necessary action at the earliest. 

Signal bungle 

At 8.31 pm on October 11, 2025, Bagmati Express passed the green signal set for the main line at a speed of about 90 kmph but ran into the loop line and collided with an empty goods train stabled there. The accident resulted in the derailment of about 13 coaches and injuries to some passengers. A parcel-cum-power car went up in flames in the impact of the collision.

A multi-departmental inquiry into the accident found nuts and bolts “missing” from a crucial point on the railway line, suggesting a possible sabotage. 

Unusual happening 

However, the Southern Railway General Manager R.N Singh who visited the accident site told reporters that “something unusual happened and the the train, instead of taking the main line, entered the loop line… there was some change in the point setting. It happened by some fault or some other reason”.

However, neither the multi-departmental inquiry nor railway officials have any reasons how the parcel van went up in flames. Though a team of the National Investigation Agency inspected the scene of accident, it found no reason to launch a probe into sabotage angle, railway sources said.