New Delhi: A preliminary inquiry report on the recent train accident near Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh in which 19 people were killed and 78 injured has provisionally concluded that the accident was due to sabotage of tracks, Rajya Sabha was informed on March 7.

Minister of State for Railways Bandaru Dattatraya said the report submitted by Commissioner of Railway Safety, South Central circle, had said that the accident was due to tampering of tracks by cutting of left side of the rail by hacksaw.

The minister said in a written reply that the final report of the Commissioner of Railway Safety was awaited.

Dattatraya also said an ambitious pilot project to install radio-based automatic warning system on the pattern of European Railways to make safer running of trains in fog conditions has been put on hold due to high costs.

PTI