Balasore train tragedy: 7 railway employees suspended, informs General Manager

At least seven railway employees have been suspended in connection with the tragic triple train collision near Bahanaga railway station of Odisha’s Balasore district that claimed the lives of as many as  294 people while over 1175 were injured.

All seven have been put under suspension for dereliction of duty.

Speaking to the media, South-Eastern Railway General Manager Anil Kumar Mishra informed, “The CBI has arrested 3 staff till now. Currently, 7 people including the station master, traffic inspector, and maintainer have been suspended for not being alert during duty hours. Had they been alert, the tragic train mishap could have been averted.”

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The suspension order comes soon after South-Eastern Railway's new GM and DRM visited Bahanaga Bazar and Balasore railway stations on Wednesday. They also visited Gopinathpur railway station with MP Pratap Sarangi. 

Meanwhile, the three accused - senior Section Engineer (signal) Arun Kumar Mahanta, Section Engineer Mohammed Amir Khan, and Technician Pappu Kumar have been taken on another four-day remand by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The inquiry report of the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS), South Eastern Circle had stated that the deadly train mishap at Bahanaga Station occurred due to lapses in the signaling circuit alteration carried out at the North Signal Goomty (of the station) in the past.

Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) sought 'Action Taken Reports (ATR) from the Chairman, Railway Board, Government of India and Chief Secretary, Odisha on the alleged violation of human rights of the Passengers of the trains due to negligence and failure of Railway Authorities.'

The NHRC issued the notices after taking cognizance of one of the rarest train accidents in India narrated in the petition filed by Supreme Court Lawyer and Rights Activist Radhakanta Tripathy.

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