CBI team starts investigation in Odisha train tragedy case

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a case in the Odisha train tragedy that took place on June 2 and is investigating whether there was a deliberate attempt to derail the ill-fated Coromandel Express or whether the accident was due to a human error.

The CBI team has reached the site of the mishap and started investigations, according to an official statement.

The CBI said, “On the request of Ministry of Railways, consent of the Odisha Government and further orders from DoPT (Govt. of India) relating to the train accident involving Coromandel Express, Yashwantpur-Howrah Express and a goods train at Bahanaga Bazar in Odisha on June 2, 2023, CBI has taken over the investigation of the case earlier registered at Balasore GRPS on June 3.

A preliminary inquiry had earlier flagged the possibility of tampering with the electronic interlocking system, and officials suspected “sabotage” behind the accident, as a result of which the Ministry of Railways decided to refer the case the CBI for investigation.

Meanwhile the Coromandel Express (12842)  on Tuesday passed through the Bahanaga Bazar railway station at around 12:45 PM, for the first time since the triple train accident in which 278 people died and 1,100 were injured.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who returned to Delhi from Balasore after reviewing the rescue and restoration work following the train accident, is holding a series of high-level meetings with officials in Delhi.