Bridge breach caused derailments in Madhya Pradesh: Report

A breach on the approach to the railway bridge over the Machak river in Madhya Pradesh caused the August 5 twin rail derailments that claimed 29 lives, an inquiry report from railways safety said here on Thursday.

According to the provisional report from the Commissioner of Railways Safety (CRS), derailment of 11071 DN Kamayani Express and 13201 UP Janata Express were caused due to washing away of ballast and formation soil beneath the rail tracks.

In the report, Dinesh Kumar Singh, CRS of the South-Central circle, said heavy rainfall and consequent flooding in the upstream catchment area of the Machak river caused the washout.