Railways orders detailed inquiry into accident

Railway Board Chairman A.K. Mittal has said that a detailed inquiry has been ordered into the derailment of the Duronto Express at Martur Railway Station, which killed two passengers, and all aspects of the accident would be inquired into by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (Central Circle).

In a brief chat with presspersons at the Chirayu Hospital here, where one of the injured Lakshmi has been admitted, Mr. Mittal remarked: “It is an unfortunate accident which should not have happened.”

He said that a team of officers from the Railway Safety Commissionerate would be visiting the accident spot on Sunday to begin the investigation. When presspersons wanted to know whether a strike by gangmen had anything do with the accident, the chairman said everything would be investigated.

Mr. Mittal was also non-committal on whether the accident was due to any sabotage and said it was be too early to say anything on the derailment without the completion of the inquiry by the Railway Safety Commissionerate.

Earlier, Mr. Mittal, accompanied by the Commissioner of the Railway Safety Chetan Bhakshi, General Manager of Central Railway J.C. Agarwal and other senior officials, called on Ms. Lakshmi and assured her of all assistance.

He also announced an ex-gratia compensation of Rs. 2 lakh to the family of those killed and compensation would also be paid to the injured depending on the nature of the injuries.

Railways was also extending all other help for shifting the injured to higher centres and enabling them to reach their destinations.

Mr. Mittal later visited the site of the accident and and directed officials of Railways to redouble their efforts to clear the track and re-lay the damaged portion and restore normal traffic on the busy Chennai-Mumbai section of Central Railways at the earliest. Earlier, Mr. Agarwal called on the injured in the Government General Hospital in Kalaburagi and assured of all the help from the Railways for their treatment.