Kathajodi train accident: ECoR suspends four officials

Bhubaneswar: East Coast Railways (ECoR) has suspended four officials who were on signal duty when the Bhubaneswar-Bhadrak DMU rammed into a stationery goods train at Kathajodi station on Thursday evening causing death of two GRP officials who were on duty and leaving many others injured.

The two deceased GRP officials have been identified as Amulya Mohanty and Ranjit Das.

Informing this to media, general manager of ECoR Umesh Singh said, “Four officials- loco pilot Sanatan Das, Assistant loco pilot Jyoti Ranjan Das, loco inspector Upendra Kumar Behera and senior goods guard P C Sethi have been suspended.”

“Fortunately the guard of the goods trains managed narrow escape in the accident. Commuters in the first two coaches next to the engine of the passenger train sustained injuries in the accident. All the injured persons have been shifted to hospital.  We will do an inquiry into the incident,” Singh added

Jyoti Prakash Mishra, CPRO of ECoR, said, “An enquiry committee will be formed to investigate under what circumstances the accident took place.”

“What is the reason behind the accident can be ascertained after the completion of the investigation,” said Railway SP Sanjay Kaushal.

Meanwhile, raising serious concern over the Kathajodi train accident Union Railway minister Suresh Prabhu has ordered a probe into the incident.

The union minister has also tweeted that strong action will be taken against the erring officials after the completion of the investigation.

The health condition of 16 persons including two women, who are undergoing treatment at SCB medical college and hospital in Cuttack are stated to be stable, medical sources said adding that, 19 persons have been discharged after first aid.

The postmortem of the two deceased will be conducted today, sources in the medical added.

Notably, two passengers were killed and several sustained injuries after Bhubaneswar-Bhadrak DMU collided with a goods train at Kathjodi station on Thursday evening.

The incident took place at about 6.30 PM yesterday.