Beginning its journey from the Old Delhi Railway Station at 10.50 pm on February 18, the 4001 (Up) Attari Special observed one speed restriction of 20 kmph from kilometre 14/03 to 14/19 between Badli and Holambi Kalan railway stations.

This fact, recorded by Commissioner of Railway Safety (Northern Circle) Bhupinder Singh in his inquiry report, could be of interest to the investigators in piecing together the case. This brief slow down by the train, railway officials said, could have helped someone wanting to get off the moving train.

Based on eyewitness accounts, investigators have been working on the line that two men, wearing mufflers, had got off the running train as it slowed down, while approaching Diwana station.

However, Singh stated in his report that "on the day of the accident, there were no permanent or temporary speed restrictions on the line in the Samalkha-Diwana block section and in the Diwana railway station". Singh has further concluded that the speed of the train at the time of the accident was 100 kmph.

The report also categorically states that the train "did not stop at any place en route till the time it was stopped by the Loco Pilot on being warned of fire in the train by ASM/Diwana". Further, following detailed inspection of the coaches, the CRS has observed that the upper luggage racks near the doorways bore signs of explosion whereas all other racks were seen to have bent downwards in a curved form due to intense heat of the fire. "No damages due to explosion were seen on the berths and in the surrounding areas below these berths to give any indication that anything explosive might have been kept under the lower berths in the cabin areas," the report says.

... contd.