New Delhi, July 06: Sabotage is suspected to be the cause of the derailment of Pakala-Bellary passenger train near Chittoor in Andhra Pradesh today which caused the death of its assistant driver and injuries to 22 passengers, Minister of State for Railways Bandaru Dattatreya has said. "According to information I received, 13 boulders were found on the track resulting in the engine getting capsized. Some sleepers and a fish plate were also missing, which clearly point towards the hand of some anti-social elements in the accident," Dattatreya said. He said that the accident relief train and the medical relief train had been sent to the site and the passengers sent to their destinations.

The minister added that preventing sabotage of rail services was the responsibility of the state governments.

"The state police, with the railway police, needs to undertake patrolling of sensitive areas on the routes. The department officials regularly coordinate with the state government to supervise the safety scenario," he said.
Regarding the rising frequency of rail accidents, Dattatreya said the government is taking steps to minimise them, but added, "There was a need to build confidence among passengers in this regard."

Bureau Report