Kanchenjunga Express Accident: The pilot was not at fault in the collision between the goods train and the Kanchenjunga Express. In the preliminary investigation, questions have also been raised on the readiness and vigilance of the station master, the goods train guard and the level crossing jail personnel.
Chief Security Commissioner of Northeast Frontier Railway, Janak Kumar Garg, on Wednesday, the second day of the investigation, questioned the station master of Rangapani, the goods train guard and the level crossing staff. After questioning about 50 people in two days, new facts have come to light.
We will investigate and submit the report in two days.
The report will be submitted after investigation in the next two days. It is noteworthy that on Monday, Kanchenjunga Express collided with a goods train between Rangapani and Nijbari stations in Darjeeling district. 10 people died in this accident while 31 people are undergoing treatment. One of them is in critical condition. Train services on this route have now become normal.
Loco pilot convicted
After the train accident on Monday, many senior railway officials had initially blamed the loco pilot of the goods train for the accident. After starting the investigation, the committee felt that such a big tragedy could not have happened due to the mistake of just one person. The railway system is not such that a single person can master it.
Rangapani station master was questioned
According to sources, during the investigation, the Rangapani station master was questioned as to why the freight train was given the authority to cross all the signals at once when the Kanchenjunga Express did not pass the next station? The guard of the freight train was questioned as to why he did not panic when the train was running so fast even in the condition of faulty signal? The level crossing staff was asked why they did not worry after seeing the speed of the freight train going backwards when the Kanchenjunga Express passed through the line recently.
The pilot of the freight train is still in hospital
For this, investigation is going on on the basis of new facts. Apart from the Security Commissioner, officers from many departments are also involved in the investigation. Information was also taken from the loco pilot of Kanchenjunga Express at the ADRM office in New Jalpaiguri. The co-pilot of the goods train is still in the hospital. His job is to alert the pilot about the signal. He has also been questioned. The statement of the people supporting the pilot can prove to be important in this case. Because they are witnesses to the mood and comfort of the pilot. Initial investigation revealed that the goods train was breaking the speed limit.
The passenger train was running as per schedule
Katihar division DRM Surendra Kumar told reporters that apart from Rangapani railway staff, all the level crossing staff till the incident spot were questioned. Due to rain, the signal failed from 5:30 am.
After the accident, amid controversy over the fault of the goods train's loco pilot, the East Frontier Loco Running Staff Association alleged that the loco pilot, chief loco inspector and station master were not trained on the automatic signalling system. In such a situation, how can they run the train safely?