Business & Economy

India launches investigation as freight train accidentally runs without driver

Srinagar, India, Feb 26 (EFE).- Authorities in the Kashmir region of northern India ordered an investigation Monday after a freight train accidentally traveled more than 70 kilometers (43.5 miles) without a driver, officials told EFE Monday.

“The goods train was at halt at Kathua station in Jammu division when it suddenly started moving and reached Hoshiarpur,” Divisional Traffic Manager Jammu Prateek Srivastava told reporters.

The train, made up of more than 50 wagons, ran at a speed of between 70 and 80 kph driven by a slope until it was stopped by authorities in Punjab, the official said.

Division Railway Manager Sanjay Sahu told the media that they issued a warning to all stations and decided to stop all trains and close all crossings through which the train would pass, in addition to cutting off the electricity in the catenary system to stop it.

The authorities have ordered a high-level investigation into why the railway began to move with no one in charge.

During the incident, which occurred early Sunday, no casualties or property damage were reported, Srivastava said.

Footage aired by local media Times of India showed the train passing through several railway stations at high speed, without stopping or slowing down.

The Indian rail network, with 68,000 kilometers of tracks, is the fourth longest in the world, behind the United States, Russia and China.

There are about 21,650 trains and 7,349 stations across the country, transporting about 23 million passengers daily. EFE

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