Team News Riveting
Bhubaneswar, June 5
The Loco pilot of the ill-fated Coromandel Express had given his statement underlining there was no violation on their part when the speedy train rammed into stationary goods train on loop line in Bahanga Bazar station on Friday.
Counted as the third major train accident in India, the collision of three trains in Odisha’s Balasore district claimed 275 lives while over 1000 others were injured. The bodies of 170 people have been identified so far. The AIIMS authorities in Bhubaneswar are procuring containers from Paradip Port to preserve the bodies
The loco pilot of the Coromandel Express, Gunanidhi Mohanty and Assistant Loco Pilot Hazari Behera were injured in the accident and had been undergoing treatment in a Bhubaneswar hospital. Fortunately, the goods train drivers and the Shalimar Express are safe. Luckily, the guard of the goods train had gone for a tea break when the Coromandel Express hit it from the rear.
Mohanty has suffered a fracture in his left leg and multiple abrasions. Though he is conscious, he is still weak and disoriented. Behera’s condition is reported to be critical and is in the ICU.
Sources said Mohanty had given his statement and had asserted that the signal was green and not red when he entered the loop line. The train was also within the permissible speed limit.
“We had spoken with the driver and he confirmed that the signal was green. Our staff is dedicated and works with dedication. He neither had passed when the signal was red, nor was over-speeding,” Railway Board member of Operation and Business Development Jaya Varma Sinha said.
Three days after the incident, Railway Safety Commissioner Shailesh Kumar Pathak on Monday visited the accident site and took stock of the situation. He later visited the station signal room, control room and interacted with the officials present there.
“The Commissioner of Railway Safety, South Eastern Circle has already initiated a probe. He is doing his independent enquiry,” Pathak said, adding that it was too early to say anything about signal failure leading to the accident.
The Railway Board has recommended for an inquiry by the CBI, as a conspiracy behind this mishap could not be ruled out.
The railway enquiry team question Bahanga Bazar Station Master S B Mohanty for hours. He was in command when the fatal accident took place. Reports said he fled from the spot after the accident.
Meanwhile, an offence regarding the train accident has been registered at the Balasore GRP Police station.
