Train accident: 5 rly officials appear before probe officers

Chennai: Investigators are probing whether sabotage or internal rivalry among railway staff led to the collision between Mysuru-Darbhanga Bagmati Express and a stationary goods train at Kavarapettai last Friday. In connection with the probe, seven railways personnel were summoned for questioning by Government Railway Police (GRP).
The crash, which injured at least eight passengers, occurred when the express train rammed the guard rake of a parked goods train on the loop line of Kavaraipettai station, causing 12 coaches to derail and overturn.Investigators are looking into why the train, despite receiving a green signal for the main line, entered the loop line, where the speed is limited to 30 km/h.
A M Chowdhary, Commissioner of Railway Safety for the southern circle, inspected the accident site on Saturday morning, joined by National Investigation Agency (NIA) officers to examine a possible sabotage angle. A detailed investigation of the tracks, signals, station interlocking systems, and other operational aspects was conducted. The Korukkupet GRP registered a case under Sections 281, 125(a), 125 (b) of BNS, and 154 of Railway Act, 1989, based on the complaint filed by Muni Prasad Babu, Kavaraipettai station master.
On Monday, five railway enployees, including Ponneri station master Gowrikanth and officials from the signal and electrical departments, appeared before Chennai Central DSP Karnan. "We are investigating multiple angles, including sabotage and internal politics," said a police officer, adding that the true cause will be determined only after a comprehensive probe, which the Railway Safety Commissioner is also conducting.