CBI Files Charge Sheet Against Railway Officials for Balasore Train Accident: Alleged Culpable Homicide & Disappearance of Evidence
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a charge sheet against three railway officials in connection with the Balasore train accident that occurred on June 2. The charge sheet accuses the officials of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and causing the disappearance of evidence.
The CBI arrested Arun Kumar Mahanta, senior section engineer (Signals), Amir Khan, senior section engineer (in Soro), and Pappu Kumar, a technician, all of whom were posted in Balasore district. The accident involved three trains and resulted in the tragic death of 296 people, with over 1,200 more sustaining injuries.
The incident took place when the Coromandel Express collided with a stationary freight train at Bahanaga Bazar station in Balasore. Several derailed coaches from the Coromandel Express subsequently collided with the Yeshwantpur-Howrah Express approaching from the opposite direction.
In its charge sheet submitted before a special judicial magistrate in Bhubaneswar, the CBI states that the accused railway officials are directly responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the signal and telecommunication assets at Bahanaga Bazar railway station. Moreover, it alleges that repair work at the level crossing gate in question was carried out under the supervision of Mahanta, using the wrong circuit diagram.
The CBI further asserts that the accused individuals failed in their duty to ensure that testing, overhauling, and alterations complied with approved plans and instructions. These lapses are believed to have contributed to the tragic accident.
Previously, a high-level inquiry by the railway authorities found that incorrect signaling was the primary cause of the accident. Lapses at multiple levels in the signaling and telecommunication department were also identified. The inquiry further revealed that the accident could have been prevented if past red flags were reported.
The independent inquiry report submitted by the Commission of Railway Safety (CRS) noted that the failure to supply station-specific approved circuit diagrams for the works at the level crossing gate was a crucial error that resulted in incorrect wiring. The report highlights a similar incident in May 2022, which occurred due to wrong wiring and cable faults.
In conclusion, the CBI’s charge sheet against the railway officials involved in the Balasore train accident includes allegations of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and causing the disappearance of evidence. The charge sheet states that the accused employees had direct responsibilities in maintaining signal and telecommunication assets and failed to ensure the proper execution of repair work. The tragic accident could have been prevented if appropriate corrective measures had been taken based on prior incidents and red flags. The CBI’s investigation aims to bring justice to the victims and their families by holding the responsible parties accountable.
