Passengers of Delhi-bound Howrah-Poorva Express had a miraculous escape on Sunday when 11 bogies of the Up train derailed at liluah station leaving at least eight people injured. While the immediate cause of the accident was not immediately known, sources in the Railways said it could be on account of a mechanical fault. Eastern Railway Manger RK Gupta said the train had started from Howrah at 8.15 am while the train derailed 10 mintues later at liluah.
Eyewitnesses, however, said the driver of a goods train coming from the opposite side had waved emergency signals to the Poorva’s driver leading him to apply the emergency brakes causing the 11 coaches to derail. “Things could have been worse had the train been running on high speed,” officials said adding Commissioner for Railway Safety would enquire into the matter.