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{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox public transit accident
| name = Sainthia train collision

| image =
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| caption = The accident

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| date = 19 July 2010
| time = 02:00 (IST, UTC+05:30)
| location = [[Sainthia Junction railway station]], [[Sainthia]], [[Birbhum district|Birbhum]], [[West Bengal]]
| location_dir =
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| country = [[India]]
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| operator = [[Indian Railways]]
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| type = Rear-end collision
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| bus =
| trains = 2
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| deaths = 66
| injuries = 165
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}}

The '''Sainthia train collision''' occurred on 19 July 2010, at the [[Sainthia Junction railway station]] in [[Sainthia]], [[India]], when the [[Uttar Banga Express]]<ref>{{Cite web|author=Partha Majumdar, Priyanka Ray |url=http://www.indianrail.gov.in/avlpress_hwh.html |title=Press Availability Information |publisher=Indianrail.gov.in |access-date=21 July 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|author=S.Saha |url=http://resultsfaq.com/train-accident-in-sainthia-west-bengal-70-injured-0719362.html |title=Train accident in Sainthia, West Bengal: Many dead,70 Injured |publisher=resultsfaq.com }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.indianrail.gov.in/7days_avlpress_hwh.html |title=7 DAYS AVAILABILITY INFORMATION |publisher=Indianrail.gov.in |access-date=21 July 2010}}</ref> collided with the [[Vananchal Express]] as it was leaving the platform. 66 people died as a result of the accident,<ref>[http://news.rediff.com/report/2010/jul/20/wb-sainthia-train-accident-toll-rises-to-66.htm Sainthia train mishap toll rises to 66]''Rediff News'', {{Nowrap|20 July}} 2010</ref> and 165 people were reported injured.<ref name=AFP>[https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hkhutHC10Y8ERij4XHu7jncw1WfQ 61 dead in India train crash]</ref>

==Collision==
{{Wikinews|Many dead in Indian train crash}}
The collision occurred 191 km from [[Kolkata]] at {{Nowrap|02:00 am}} ([[Indian Standard Time|IST]]) when the [[Uttar Banga Express]], travelling from [[New Cooch Behar]] to [[Sealdah railway station|Sealdah]], hit the [[Bhagalpur Junction railway station|Bhagalpur]] – [[Ranchi Junction railway station|Ranchi]] [[Vananchal Express]] which was just leaving Sainthia railway station. The impact destroyed the 3 rear compartments of the [[Vananchal Express]].

Injured people were sent to hospitals in [[Sainthia]] and [[Suri, Birbhum|Suri]].<ref name=AFP /> A need for much faster response to such accidents has been expressed by the [[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Home Minister]].<ref name=IBNL21>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110301050311/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/blame-game-still-on-over-sainthia-train-crash/127200-37-64.html Blame game still on over Sainthia train crash] ''IBN Live'', {{Nowrap|21 July}} 2010</ref>

==Investigation==
Railway officials initially described how there may have been something wrong with the drivers of the [[Uttar Banga Express]], detailing how the train had passed through a red signal at high speed, with no evidence of a brake application and with no apparent attempt by the driver or co-driver to jump clear of the train cab before the collision. Both were found dead in the wreckage, still in their seats.<ref name=HTTimes>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100722162442/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Railways-blame-human-error-for-mishap-say-probe-on/Article1-574738.aspx Railways blame [[human error]] for mishap] ''Hindustan Times'', {{Nowrap|19 July}} 2010</ref> The possibility of the two drivers of Uttar Banga Express being drugged had triggered alarm in the railways.<ref name=Telegraph22>[http://telegraphindia.com/1100722/jsp/bengal/story_12711985.jsp Diversion system not activated Duo on duty ‘booked off’] ''The Telegraph'', {{Nowrap|22 July}} 2010</ref> However, the [[post mortem]] of the drivers at the Suri hospital did not show any evidence of drugs.<ref name=ANN>[https://web.archive.org/web/20101010034053/http://www.asianewsnet.net/home/news.php?sec=1&id=13230 Train accident probe focuses on drivers] ''Asia News Network'', {{Nowrap|21 July}} 2010</ref> As a precaution, drivers and guards have been asked not to buy any food or drink at stations.<ref name=Telegraph22/>

Sainthia railway station was a scheduled stop for the express, but the train is believed to have passed over a bridge {{Nowrap|1.2 km}} before the accident at three times the line speed.<ref name=Telegraph>[http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100720/jsp/frontpage/story_12704304.jsp Railway grapples with driver riddle] ''The Telegraph'', {{Nowrap|19 July}} 2010</ref> The crew had taken charge of the train at [[Malda Town railway station|Malda Town]] 5 hours before the accident, and had appeared fit and well to station staff during a previous unscheduled stop at Gadadharpur, {{Nowrap|7 km}} ahead of the accident site.<ref name=HTT2>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100723155607/http://www.hindustantimes.com/West-Bengal-train-collision-A-9-min-7-km-mystery/H1-Article1-575278.aspx West Bengal train collision: A 9-min, 7-km mystery] ''Hindustan Times'', {{Nowrap|21 July}} 2010</ref>
The signalman in-charge at the station claimed to have heard the station master trying to alert the driver of the Uttar Banga Express via [[walkie-talkie]], but got no response.<ref name=NDTV2>[http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/bengal-train-accident-station-master-tried-to-alert-driver-38498 Bengal train accident: 'Station master tried to alert driver'] ''NDTV'', {{Nowrap|21 July}} 2010</ref>

The enquiry has found no fault with the train's brakes<ref name=Telegraph/> although, the guard, when questioned said that he had applied the emergency brake after the driver did not respond to him on the walkie-talkie, but the brake failed.<ref name=HTT3>[https://archive.today/20130125133919/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Uttarbanga-Express-guard-says-emergency-brake-failed/Article1-575896.aspx Uttarbanga Express guard says emergency brake failed] ''Hindustan Times'', {{Nowrap|22 July}} 2010</ref> Also there was no signal failure, the approach signal was red.<ref name=Telegraph/> Probable causal factors found are the drugging of the drivers and not setting a diversion route when the Vananchal Express was standing at the platform.<ref name=Telegraph22/> It was too late to operate points and divert the train when the Uttar Banga Express was seen.<ref name=HTT2/>

The driver of the Vananchal Express, said that "even though the green signal was given at 1.54am, we could start the train only at 2.01am because we had not received any signal from the guard".<ref name=Telegraph22/>

==Compensation==
Railway Minister [[Mamata Banerjee]] has announced compensation of a total of ₹500,000 for the dead, ₹100,000 for the seriously injured, and ₹25,000 for minor injuries.<ref>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Rs-5-lakh-job-to-kin-of-dead-in-accident-Mamata/articleshow/6186159.cms Rs 5 lakh, job to kin of dead in accident: Mamata] ''Times of India'', 19 July 2010</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of Indian rail incidents]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100819060609/http://www.cidwestbengal.gov.in/file/sainthia/index.php Photographs of the unidentified persons who died in the incident of collision of 3148 DN Uttar Banga Express & 3404 DN Vananchal Express on the night of 19 July 2010 at Sainthia Station] Reference: Sainthia GRPS Case No. 13/10 dated 19 July 2010 u/s 279/337/338/304A IPC.

{{2010 railway accidents}}
{{Rail accidents}}
{{Disasters in India in 2010}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sainthia Train Collision}}
[[Category:Railway accidents and incidents in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Railway accidents in 2010]]
[[Category:2010 disasters in India]]
[[Category:2010s in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Train collisions in India]]

Sainthia train collision - Revision history

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