Goods train goes off track, enters into ice plant

A goods train went off track and slammed into an ice plant near Old Port in Mangalore on Wednesday night at around 8 pm.

Sources from the ice factory revealed that the employees did not sustain any injuries but a goods shed that contained generators was damaged due to the derailed train.

"Usually, we occupy the shed which was damaged. Thanks to the Ganesha festival, many of the employees were on leave and no one occupied that room when the accident occurred,” said an ice plant employee.

The accident is said to have occurred due to inadequate lighting in the area. The derailed train went off track and slammed into a compound wall, went over a gutter and then slammed into the wall of the ice plant.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, a highly placed source from Mangalore Railway Station said that the train was brought on track on Thursday morning and the debris caused due to the incident is being cleared. "The train did not stop as expected. No casualties are reported and we shall offer compensation to the ice factory owner," he said. The railway officer did not comment whether the accident occurred due to human or technical error.

However, he said that an internal inquiry will be conducted. Negligence of railway staff cannot be ruled out, he added.