Goods train derailment near Mumbai: Train operations affected, restoration work on
Mumbai (PTI): The Western Railway has cancelled or rescheduled several trains following the derailment of a goods train at Palghar railway station in Maharashtra and the restoration work is on more than 15 hours after the incident, officials said on Wednesday.
Seven wagons of the goods train derailed at Palghar, located around 100 km from Mumbai, at 5.08 pm on Tuesday, affecting the traffic of Mumbai-bound trains coming from Gujarat, a railway spokesperson earlier said here.
No casualties were reported.
The goods train with 43 wagons and carrying iron coils was heading to Karambeli in Gujarat from Visakhapatnam.
As per railway sources, seven wagons including the guard's van from the rear end derailed, and some of them fell on their sides with iron coils thrown off over the tracks.
Due to the impact of the derailed wagons and coils, the tracks and overhead equipment suffered major damage, they said.
The Western Railway has announced the complete/partial cancellation, short-termination and diversion of several trains due to the incident.
Sumit Thakur, chief public relations officer of the Western Railway, told PTI on Wednesday that all the derailed wagons and guard's van have been removed from the site.
He said that since last night, they have started single line operation and some trains were being operated on the (down) line between Boisar-Palghar-Kelve Road stations.
"Restoration work is going on in full swing. It is expected to be completed by 2 pm," he said.
Nearly 250 labourers were working at the site. Two hydra cranes, two-three earth excavating machines, a 300 tons crane and other machinery were deployed at the site for the restoration work, the official said.
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Porsche car crash case exposed systemic corruption: Pune police commissioner
Pune (PTI): The Porsche car crash case exposed "systemic corruption," but the Pune Police have successfully uncovered the nexus behind the replacement of the accused juvenile's blood samples with those of his mother, Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar said on Wednesday.
The case made national headlines after the high-end car allegedly driven by the 17-year-old boy in an inebriated state mowed down motorcycle-borne IT professionals Anish Awadhiya and Ashwini Costa in the Kalyani Nagar area on May 19 last year.
"Last year’s Porsche car crash case sparked widespread discussions about Pune’s deteriorating social culture, alleged police corruption, and several other issues. Amid all the criticism, one positive aspect stood out: the case exposed systemic corruption.
"It also demonstrated how the police, working within the same system, managed to uncover the entire nexus behind the replacement of the juvenile’s blood samples with those of his mother," Kumar said while addressing Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, an initiative aimed at raising awareness against drug addiction, organised at Modern College.
He added that the juvenile has been released since he was a minor.
"However, his mother has remained in jail for over a year, and his father continues to be behind bars. Doctors from Sassoon Hospital and others involved are also still in jail," Kumar said, adding that one mistake by a child, and an attempt by his parents to cover it up, destroyed an entire family.
He said the police will follow up on this case until every guilty person is punished.
Kumar also appealed to students to stay away from intoxicating substances and drugs.
"You are not only endangering your own life but also putting your entire family at risk," he said, urging the youth not to fall prey to harmful addictions.
"Instead, stand strong and act as a force to ensure that drug abuse is curbed in your surroundings. We assure you of full police support," he added.
He further stated that if youth from all colleges unite and decide to end this menace, "the day is not far when not even one gram of drug will be sold in the city".
The investigation into the car crash had revealed that the juvenile's blood samples were replaced with those of his mother.
The roles of Dr Ajay Taware, head of the forensic department, Medical Officer Shreehari Halnor, and a hospital staffer came under scrutiny.
While the mother is currently out on bail, the juvenile’s father, Sassoon Hospital doctors Taware and Halnor, staffer Atul Ghatkamble, two middlemen, Ashpak Makandar and Amar Gaikwad, and others remain in jail for the alleged blood sample swap.
