Sabotage Or Human Error? Commissioner Railway Safety's Inquiry To Continue, Along With CBI Probe

Suspecting the tampering of the interlocking system that led to massive loss of human lives, the Railways has sought CBI probe into the triple-train accident near Balasore in Odisha.

Amid the possibilities of sabotage or human error, the CBI is expected to bring out the truth behind the ghastly incident.

There are two aspects:

• the Signalling Staff unknowingly would have made external circuit contacts or;

The Railways Boar's request for a CBI inquiry will answer all queries regarding the worst accident after 1995.

However, it was clarified that the ongoing mandatory inquiry by the Commissioner Railway Safety (CRS) will continue despite the CBI probe.

The CRS inquiry is mandatory and it would not be hampered and go on as usual, the Railway maintains.

The CRS report is expected to be out in a fortnight from now.

Earlier today, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the cause of the train accident was directly associated with the point machine and electronic interlocking system and explained that the electronic interlocking system, which serves as a safety mechanism to prevent collisions and conflicting movements between trains, experienced a malfunction, ultimately resulting in the tragic incident.

The head-on collision of Coromandel express train with Goods train has raised many questions as it was a clear case of signalling system failure.

Basically the signal is the basic guidance for the Loco pilots to run at maximum speed applicable to that track. It means, a station master advises the Loco pilots to control or run or to stop it through signal only.

In this accident, the Coromandel express was given a Green signal to run a maximum 130 kmph through the station.

In case any stoppage of Coromandel express is required after a green signal was given, then the signal colour will be changed to red or yellow by that station master.

Here, Coromandel express was given Green signal to run at 130 kmph through his station. But the train entered the Loop line wrongly where a Goods train was standing.

This could have been due to any poor or external electrical circuit contacts or human interference.