It was providential that the locomotive leaned away from the steep fall of about 300 meters. It is very surprising that the railway authorities overlooked such an important matter and that too particularly in the monsoons when there are chances of landslide on the rails.

Had the engine been attached in the right position with the guard in front, most probably the locomotive would not have derailed. The lethargic response by the DRMO both in Pune and Mumbai was disgusting. The accident which took place at 9.15 a.m. between Monkey Hill and Nagnath could not be reported for lack of communication facilities. It was through mobile phones of passengers that contact was made possible with Lonavla station and then it took nearly three hours for the railways to come to the rescue.

No railway official with authority had come down to the site of the accident. Passengers were put through a lot of inconvenience as no communication facility was provided. The train was emptied from the rear end and old people as well as children with their luggage were made to walk for nearly 100 meters to board the relief train in pouring rain.

The railway authorities did not come out with any apology which was more than due to the passengers who were stranded for several hours. I demand a thorough enquiry into this matter in the shortest possible time and it should be published in newspapers.