Title - 25 yrs after Peruman tragedy, reason still unknown

Kollam, Jul 8, 2013: It has been 25 years since the country stood witness to one of the most disastrous rail accidents ever, when the Bangalore – Kanyakumari Island Express train derailed on the Peruman bridge over Ashtamudi Lake.

Officials say the cause for the accident was a tornado. But still the cause of accident remains a mystery. Ten bogie carriages of the Island Express fell into Ashtamudi Lake, and more than 200 persons were seriously injured.

The Peruman Train Tragedy is one of the largest train tragedies in the history of Kerala. Indian Railways constructed a new bridge across the lake. The old bridge remains in memorial of the Peruman Tragedy. It is not clear if this accident was a simple derailment, bridge collapse or washaway.

Most eyewitnesses say the train was running at a speed higher than what they saw on other days. Some others say that some track maintenance was going on with speed restriction which the driver did not observe.