Seven railway employees have been suspended after 22 coaches of a Puri-bound train carrying several hundred passengers rolled down for about 15 km without an engine on Saturday night.
The coaches of the Ahmedabad-Puri Express traveled from Titlagarh station in Balangir, Odisha, towards Kesinga in Kalahandi, Odisha, after the engine was removed so that it could be attached at the other end.
The divisional railway manager in Sambalpur, Jaideep Gupta, has ordered a senior officer-level probe consisting of divisional heads of different departments. The suspended employees include two engine drivers, three carriage repairing staff and two operating department employees.
The incident reportedly happened due to non-application of skid-brake on the wheels of the coaches by the staff after detachment of the engine late on Saturday night.
“When the engine is detached to be attached at the other end, coaches should be secured with skids at the wheels. In this case, it appears that skids were not placed properly,” a spokesperson told PTI.
Soon after the incident, an engine was sent from Titlagarh to ferry the coaches.
East Cost Railway General Manager Umesh Singh has sought immediate corrective action and stringent action in the incident.
“Strictest action will be initiated against any negligent act endangering safety of trains. Safety is non-negotiable and cannot be compromised with. Action against any Railway employee found guilty will be taken up severely,” Singh said.
(With inputs from PTI)
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