Sep 23, 2023
How the India Train Crash Unfolded
By Weiyi Cai, Lazaro Gamio, Marco Hernandez, Scott Reinhard, Karan Deep Singh
By Weiyi Cai, Lazaro Gamio, Marco Hernandez, Scott Reinhard, Karan Deep Singh and Sameer YasirJune 4, 2023
Bahanaga
Bahanaga Bazar
rail station
Site of initial impact
Coromandel Express
passenger train
Freight train
carrying iron ore
Bahanaga
Bahanaga Bazar
rail station
Site of initial impact
Coromandel Express
passenger train
Freight train
carrying iron ore
Bahanaga
Bahanaga Bazar
rail station
Site of initial impact
Freight train
carrying iron ore
Coromandel Express
passenger train
The New York Times; aerial drone image via Reuters
Investigators of the deadly multi-train crash in India have focused on the possibility that it was caused by an electronic signal system failure. Here's how officials say the disaster unfolded.
◀ South to Chennai
North to Kolkata ▶
Other freight train
Second passenger train
Coromandel Express
Freight train with iron ore
◀ South to Chennai
North to Kolkata ▶
Other freight train
Second passenger train
Coromandel
Express
Freight train with iron ore
At around 7 p.m. local time, the Coromandel Express passenger train approached from the north at a speed of about 80 miles per hour. A second passenger train, the Yesvantpur-Howrah Superfast Express, approached from the south at about the same time.
Other freight train
Second passenger train
(exact position unknown)
Possible signal
system failure
Coromandel
Express
Freight train with iron ore
Second passenger train
(exact position unknown)
Other freight train
Coromandel
Express
Possible signal
system failure
Freight train
with iron ore
The Coromandel Express veered onto an adjacent track occupied by an idled freight train that was loaded with iron ore. An Indian Railways official said that a problem with the signal system was most likely the overall cause of the crash, though investigations were still underway.
Other freight train
Second passenger train
(exact position unknown)
Coromandel
Express
Freight train with iron ore
Collision
Second passenger train
(exact position unknown)
Other freight train
Coromandel
Express
Freight train
with Iron ore
Collision
The Coromandel Express collides with the freight train. The cars at the front of the Coromandel jump off their tracks and form a mangled pile. More than 20 cars from the Coromandel are derailed.
Other freight train
Second passenger train
Freight train with iron ore
Derailed cars strike
second passenger train
Coromandel
Express
Other freight train
Freight train
with Iron ore
Derailed cars strike
second passenger train
The derailed cars from the Coromandel Express strike the second passenger train as it passes, causing two cars at the end of the second passenger train to derail.
The accident scene stretched more than a thousand feet.
Derailed cars from
second passenger train
Road crossing
Coromandel Express
passenger train
Bahanaga
Severe
damage
Freight train
carrying iron ore
Bahanaga Bazar
rail station
INDIA
Site of
accident
Odisha
250 feet
Derailed cars
from second
passenger train
Bahanaga
INDIA
Odisha
Site of
accident
Road crossing
Coromandel
Express
passenger
train
Severe
damage
Bahanaga
Bazar rail
station
Freight train
carrying iron ore
250 feet
250 feet
Coromandel
Express
passenger
train
Derailed cars
from second
passenger train
North
Road
crossing
Bahanaga
Severe
damage
Freight train
carrying iron ore
INDIA
Odisha
Bahanaga
Bazar rail
station
Site of
accident
Source: Approximate locations of train cars based on photographs and video from the scene.
The New York Times; satellite image by Airbus
Additional reporting by Mujib Mashal, Yuliya Parshina-Kottas, Karthik Patanjali and Alex Travelli.
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