Tamil Nadu loco pilot gets 10 years for Arakkonam accident

By Express News Service | Published: 22nd August 2017

A file picture of the mangled remains of the passenger train that bore the brunt of the MEMU’s impact six years ago | Shiba Prasad sahu

VELLORE: The Vellore district court on Monday awarded 10-years imprisonment to a 47-year-old loco pilot for causing the 2011 train accident near Arakkonam in which 12 passengers had died and 85 others were injured.Principal District Judge S Anandhi convicted Rajkumar, the motorman of a Mainline Electrical Multiple Unit (MEMU) train, under Section 304 (2) (causing death due to negligence, not amounting to culpable homicide), and awarded ten- years imprisonment.

On 13 September 2011, around 9.30 pm, Chennai Beach-Vellore Cantonment Mainline Electrical Multiple Unit had rammed onto Arokkonam-Katpadi Passenger which was stopped at Melpakkam on the Chetteri - Arakkonam section for signal clearance.In the impact, three coaches of the Mainline Electrical Multiple Unit and five coaches of the Passenger train were completely damaged and derailed, killing 12 passengers and injuring 86 others.

The MEMU motorman Rajkuumar jumped off from the train a few seconds before the crash. The Government Railway Police at Arakkonam had registered a case in connection with the incident. Rajkumar, who got injuries on his face, was admitted in a government hospital and was later arrested.

He was booked for causing the accident due to negligence by speaking over mobile phone while piloting the crowded train. An inquiry by the Commissioner of Railway Safety confirmed that Rajkumar drove the train at a speed of 80 kmph as against the caution limit of 30 kmph.The police also found that the motorman had jumped two signals before causing the accident as the train was delayed for about two hours.Since both the charges were proven without any doubt, the district court awarded him the imprisonment.

MEMU rammed into stationary train

On 13 September, 2011, around 9.30 pm, Chennai Beach-Vellore Cantonment Mainline Electrical Multiple Unit had rammed into Arokkonam-Katpadi Passenger which was stopped at Melpakkam on the Chetteri - Arakkonam section for signal clearance

12 died, 86 injured due to loco pilot’s fault

In the impact, three coaches of the Mainline Electrical Multiple Unit and five coaches of the Passenger train were completely damaged and derailed, killing 12 passengers and injuring 86 others