Odisha train accident: The Railway Board has recommended a CBI probe into the Balasore train accident, said Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav. In a recent interview, the Railway Minister said that considering all the circumstances related to the horrific triple train accident in Odisha, the board has recommended a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation. The Indian Railways on Sunday virtually ruled out driver error and system malfunction as possible “sabotage” and tampering with the electronic interlocking system behind the triple train accident that killed at least 275 people in Odisha on June 2, 2023. indicates.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav said the “root cause” of the accident and the “culprits” responsible for it had been identified. However, the Railway Board has recommended an inquiry by the premier agency, noting that the incident is touted as the worst rail disaster in decades. Indian Railways had earlier updated the death toll to 275 from 288. More than 900 people were injured in this incident.
According to preliminary investigation, due to changes made in electronic interlocking and point machine, Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express at a speed of 128 kmph entered the up loop line and hit a goods train carrying iron ore near Bahnaga Bazar railway station But back ended. On Friday at about 18.55. The collision was so severe that 4 coaches of the Coromandel Express derailed and spilled onto the adjacent track.
Here, the SMVB – HWH Superfast Express was running at a speed of 116 kmph and the coaches of the Coromandel Express rammed into two coaches of the Superfast Express. The triple train accident is one of the worst accidents not only in India but globally.
The government announced ex-gratia for the affected people and as per the announcement Rs 50,000 is being given for minor injuries, Rs 2 lakh for seriously injured and Rs 10 lakh in case of death.