Bhubaneswar: A month after the triple train crash in Balasore, at least seven employees of the Indian Railways, including three employees arrested by the CBI, were suspended on the charge of dereliction of duty which led to the deadly accident.
“In the train mishap case, three of the railway staff have been arrested by CBI. As per railway rules, an official will be put on suspension 24 hours after his arrest. So, seven officials including the arrested three staffer, the station master, traffic inspector and maintainers have been suspended,” Anil Kumar Mishra, General Manager, South Eastern Railway (SER) told media persons.
Asked about the reason behind their suspension, Shri Mishra said, “Had they (the officials) been alert, the tragic train mishap could have been averted.” Further action will be taken as per the CBI probe findings, he added.
Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Kharagpur and General Manager Shri Mishra inspected the Bahanaga Bazar station on Wednesday.
On July 7, the CBI, which is investigating into the case, had arrested senior section engineer (signal) Arun Kumar Mahanta, section engineer Mohammed Amir Khan, and technician Pappu Kumar under sections under sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 201 (destruction of evidence) of the Indian Penal Code.
The arrested officials have been taken on another four-day remand by the CBI after completion of five-day remand.
Earlier, the probe conducted by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS), South Eastern Circle, revealed that the accident took place due to lapses in the signaling circuit alteration at the North Signal Goomty of the station.
The Railway Board had recommended a CBI probe into the accident following which on June 6, the CBI took over the investigation.
At least 293 people died and over 1000 were injured after Chennai-bound Coromandel Express, Howrah bound SMVP-Howrah Superfast Express and a goods train were involved in a tragic accident near the Bahanaga Bazar railway station in Balasore district on June 2 evening.
