alasore train disaster, one of India’s most catastrophic rail incidents to date that claimed 278 lives, has officially been initiated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) this Tuesday. The probe was launched immediately after registering an FIR at 2:15 PM, marking the official commencement of the CBI inquiry.
The Ministry of Railways called upon the central investigation agency after an initial inquiry raised suspicions of tampering with the electronic interlocking system that detects trains, hinting at possible sabotage. The CBI, despite limited expertise in railway operations, is backed by a team of forensic experts and will potentially seek additional assistance from rail security experts.
This extensive investigation revolves around the tragic incident that occurred at Bahanaga Bazar, Odisha, involving the Coromandel Express, Yashwantpur-Howrah Express, and a goods train on June 2nd. “The CBI has registered a case on the request of the Ministry of Railways and with the consent of the Odisha government,” a CBI spokesperson confirmed.
Initially, the FIR was registered by the Government Railway Police (GRP) Cuttack on June 3. It included charges under IPC sections relating to causing death by negligence and common intention, as well as the Railways Act sections involving unlawful and negligent actions endangering lives. One of the key findings in the FIR was that many deaths resulted from injuries caused by the collision and subsequent electrocution due to contact with a low tension line.
Significantly, approximately 40 bodies recovered from the Coromandel Express bore no visible injuries, leading officials to believe that they died from electrocution. This devastating incident was triggered when live overhead wires snapped and entangled with a few coaches during the collision. The green light for the CBI to conduct its investigation was granted by the Odisha government through a letter on Monday. The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) subsequently issued the required notification to the CBI on Tuesday, enabling the investigation to commence. The high-speed collision between Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express, and a stationary goods train happened near Bahanaga Bazar station in Balasore district, resulting in a tragic loss of lives and leaving over 1,100 people injured. The severity of the accident has been partly attributed to the high speed of the passenger trains involved.
“The Railway Board Member (Operations and Business Development) wrote to the Centre on June 4 seeking a CBI probe,” stated Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in a recent briefing.
With the investigation now underway, authorities are committed to uncovering the truth behind this devastating incident. The CBI’s findings will be crucial in ensuring that such a catastrophe does not recur in the future
