Response to Odisha Train Accident: In response to the tragic Odisha train accident, Indian Railways has taken significant action by transferring key officers within the Kharagpur division of the South Eastern Railway.
The District Railway Manager (DRM) Shujat Hashmi, Principal Chief Signal and Telecommunication Engineer (PCSTE) PM Sikdar, Principal Chief Security Officer (PCSO) Chandan Adhikary, Principal Chief Security Commissioner DB Kasar, and Principal Chief Commercial Manager (PCCM) Md Owais have all been reassigned. KR Chaudhary has been appointed as the new DRM, while Satyaki Nath will assume the role of PCCM in the Kharagpur Railway Division.
The devastating train accident, which occurred on the evening of June 2, resulted in the unfortunate loss of 292 lives and left over 900 passengers injured.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is currently conducting an investigation into the matter. As part of their inquiry, the CBI team recently interrogated Amir Khan, the signal engineer responsible for the Soro section.
Indian Railways' proactive measures aim to address the aftermath of the accident and ensure a comprehensive investigation into the incident.
Following a preliminary investigation into the matter, it was discovered that the train accident resulted from tampering with the interlocking system. As a result, the case was subsequently handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for further examination.
Additionally, South Eastern Railway officials have officially confirmed that Amir Khan, the Senior Section Engineer involved, is not absconding.
On the contrary, he is actively cooperating with the CBI in their investigation, willingly attending all the locations where he is summoned.
Amir Khan currently serves in the capacity of Senior Section Engineer, overseeing the Soro, Markona, Ranital, and Bhadrak railway stations.
It is important to note that at the time of the train accident, Amir Khan was also temporarily assigned the additional responsibility of overseeing the section encompassing Bahanaga railway station.
After the Balasore train accident, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her scepticism regarding the involvement of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the investigation.
She stated, "There is no point in assigning the CBI to probe this incident because historically, their investigations in such cases have not yielded conclusive results.
It is the responsibility of the Railway Safety Board to promptly investigate and determine the cause of this tragic accident, as well as identify those accountable for it."