Freight Train Derails in Agra, Blame Game Erupts Among Railway Departments

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Agra, India - A freight train carrying coal derailed in the Agra rail division on February 28, sparking a heated debate among railway departments over responsibility. The incident occurred when the 59-wagon train, en route from Odisha to Ambala, overheated an axle bearing near Mania railway station. The train, which had crossed Dholpur just 20 minutes prior to the derailment, disrupted the operation of multiple passenger and goods trains for several hours. According to a preliminary probe, the overheating of the axle bearing was the primary cause of the derailment. However, officials from various departments have pointed fingers at each other, with the Coach and Wagon Department being accused of negligence in maintenance. The department's representative on the probe panel countered by blaming the Mechanical Department for the hot axle and the traffic department for failing to notice the issue. The officer also questioned the role of the Jhansi rail division, stating that the train's condition should have been inspected before it left Jhansi. He claimed that the train operated for over 30 to 40 kilometers with a defective wagon, yet no one reported the issue. In response, other panel members disputed this claim, saying that the gate staff on the opposite side of the track may not have noticed the smoke. They also pointed out that no evidence supports the assertion that the train operated for such a long distance with a defective wagon. The derailment resulted in a loss of over ₹30 lakh to the Railways and caused significant delays to multiple trains. As the investigation continues, the blame game among railway departments remains ongoing.