The mangled and damaged coaches of Coromandel Express, Yesvantpur-Howrah Express and wagons of the goods train, involved in the train mishap near Bahanaga Bazar station in Balasore on June 2 killing at least 288 people, will be auctioned off.
While hearing a petition, the court of the 2nd Additional Sessions Judge, Bhubaneswar on Tuesday ordered for the auction of the 21 mangled coaches and wagons, including an engine. The court ordered this after hearing the advocates of the petitioner and the opposite party. The petitioner was the senior Divisional Mechanical Engineer, SE Railway, Kharagpur and the opposite party was the CBI.
The advocate of the petitioner, Udit Ranjan Jena contended that the articles are no longer required as charge-sheet has been submitted and the record has been transmitted to the court for trial. He also contended that the CBI in its letter to the Railway Department stated that they don’t require the damaged wagons, coaches, logo, etc. anymore.
Jena further contended that the seized articles would get damaged if they continued to lie in the open. They are also creating hindrances for carrying out repair work on the track and the 3rd line work.
And, the advocate of the opposite party raised no objection to the release of the articles in favour of the Railways.
Hearing both sides, the court passed the order for the auction of 21 mangled coaches and wagons, including an engine.