Pradeep Pattanayak

Amid suspense over the circumstances leading to the horrific triple train crash at Bahanaga Bazaar station in Balasore district on June 2, Khordha Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Rinkesh Roy alleged that without physical tampering there would be no problem with the signal system. 

“There was green signal on the main line. The signal is usually green when all the pre-conditions required for the signal to go green are perfect. If any of the pre-conditions does not meet, technically the signal can never turn green. Unless and until anyone tampers with the signal system, it remains red,” said Roy. 

“We have a system called data logger where each event starting from the pushing of signal buttons gets recorded. From that data logger, it is found that the signal was actually green. It can’t be possible unless someone has tampered with it,” he added, suggesting physical tempering with the signal system. 

On Monday, Railway Safety Commissioner Shailesh Kumar Pathak visited the accident site and took stock of the situation.
When asked about the possible reason behind the mishap, he had parried the questions of the journalists and said, “It is too early to say anything. The Commissioner of Railway Safety, South Eastern Circle has already initiated a probe. He is doing his independent inquiry. Once the report is received, the findings will be intimated to you.”

Worth mentioning, the Railway Board has recommended a CBI probe into the Balasore triple train pile-up.
Meanwhile, the process for providing compensation to the families of accident victims has started. A help desk has been opened at Balasore station and compensation is being handed over to the relatives of the deceased and injured persons.

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