Freight train loses control near Karjat, accident averted

According to Central Railway officials, the train was headed towards Mumbai from Pune when it lost control on the Western Ghats which is allegedly one of the steepest rail stretches in the region

Mumbai: A major railway accident was averted on Thursday afternoon after a 5,400-tonne freight train lost control on the steep Palasdari–Karjat ghat section. The Central Railway has ordered an inquiry into the incident.

Freight train loses control near Karjat, accident averted

According to Central Railway officials, the train was headed towards Mumbai from Pune when it lost control on the Western Ghats which is allegedly one of the steepest rail stretches in the region.

“The rake was found to be overspeeding. There were two ghat driver crews and one regular crew handling the train. We have ordered an inquiry into it,” a Central Railway official said.

Sources said the loco pilots alerted railway control immediately after realising that they lost control over breaks near Palasdari. “There seems to be some technical failure as the crew did everything possible to bring it under control. It finally slowed down between Karjat and Bhivpuri when it climbed upwards and they brought the train under control,” said another official.

Initial reports indicate that a trainee loco pilot was also present in the cab at the time of the incident. Officials, however, said the exact cause will be determined only after the inquiry.