Railways Await Loco Pilot’s Blood Report

By Express News Service

17th February 2015 06:03 AM

BENGALURU: Railway officials are yet to receive the blood test report of the loco pilot who was driving the Bengaluru-Ernakulam Intercity Express when it derailed near Anekal on Friday.

Nine passengers, including a nine-year-old boy, were killed on the spot and 16 others sustained injuries in the accident.
A senior railway official told Express that preliminary investigations had revealed that there was no mistake on the part of the loco pilot. “Doctors who examined him just after the incident had found nothing wrong. However, we are waiting for his blood report to ascertain whether he was under the influence of alcohol or any other drugs while on duty,” he said.
“Sathish Kumar Mittal, Commissioner of Railway Safety, Southern Circle, will hold a statutory enquiry at the conference hall of the Divisional Railway Manager’s office in the city at 10.00 am on Tuesday and Wednesday in connection with the incident. We have requested the public and eyewitnesses to come forward,” the officer said.
“They can reveal more about the incident and whether they found any suspicious movement around the track or locality. Those desiring to give evidence may do so at the above place on the dates of the enquiry or may write to the Commissioner of Railway Safety, No, 7, Seshadri Road, Gandhi Nagar, Bengaluru - 560009 or fax 080 22260650,” the senior railway official said.
Mittal will submit a preliminary report on the accident within one month of conclusion of the initial inquiry, in line with Railway Board guidelines. On Monday, Mittal visited the disaster site to get a first hand understanding of the derailment.
“We are also verifying details of the families of the deceased to hand over compensation cheques and have requested them to submit proper details about the beneficiaries,” the officer said.