A 50-waggon goods train exceeded speed limits on Khandala Ghat; Central Railway orders an inquiry into the safety lapse.
A major rail safety concern surfaced on the Mumbai–Pune route after a goods train with around 50 waggons descended the Khandala Ghat section at excessive speed on Thursday afternoon, prompting Central Railway to order an immediate probe into what it termed a “major safety lapse.”
The incident occurred around 1:40 pm between the Palasdari and Karjat railway stations as the train was descending from Lonavala toward Karjat through Khandala Ghat, one of the steepest and most challenging ghat sections in India’s rail network. The goods train was hauled by five locomotives.
According to senior Central Railway officials, the train was travelling at 75 kmph, significantly above the permissible limit of 60 kmph for the ghat section. “It was a major safety lapse,” a senior official said, confirming that the overspeeding raised serious operational and safety concerns.
Videos showing the train moving at high speed on the downhill stretch quickly circulated on social media, drawing public attention to the incident.
A spokesperson for Central Railway said that two ghat driver crews and one regular crew were on board at the time. “An inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the circumstances that led to the incident,” the spokesperson confirmed.
Preliminary information suggests that the crew initially failed to control the train while descending the ghat section but later managed to bring it to a halt between Karjat and Bhivpuri stations, averting a potential accident.
The inquiry will examine crew actions, braking systems, operational protocols, and compliance with speed restrictions on ghat sections. Central Railway officials said further action will be taken based on the findings of the investigation.
Source: PTI
