STORY: India’s state-run railway has suspended five workers after a 22-coach train carrying hundreds of passengers rolled in reverse and forward for 15 km (9.3 miles), officials said on Sunday (April 08).
The train, en route from Ahmedabad in the western Gujarat state to Puri in eastern Odisha state, rolled downhill for about 45 minutes on Saturday (April 07) as iron tools used to stop trains were not properly put in place. It was brought to a halt by alert railway staff members who put stones on the track.
It was not immediately clear what speed the runaway train reached but no casualties or injuries were reported. Investigations were under way. This incident is the latest in a series of accidents involving the world’s fourth-largest rail network.
Indian Railways employs 1.3 million people and is filling tens of thousands of vacant positions for engine drivers, technicians, carpenters, track inspection crews and other roles related to improving safety in the world’s fourth-largest network.
