Signs of 'deliberate interference' in electronic interlocking system led to CBI probe recommendation
Darpan News Desk IANS, 05 Jun, 2023 09:53 AM
New Delhi, June 5 (IANS) Under fire from the Opposition, including the Congress, for recommending a CBI probe into the Balasore train accident that led to the death of 275 passengers, government sources on Monday indicated that it was a case of "deliberate interference" in the system that came to the fore during the preliminary investigation, thus necessitating an investigation by a professional agency.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had on Sunday said that the Railway Board has recommended a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into Friday's horrifying accident which left 275 people dead and over 800 injured.
He also said that the accident happened due to a change in electronic interlocking.
A government source on Monday here said that the need for a CBI probe even when the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) was already probing the incident, as the officials who were part of the preliminary investigation indicated the need for a more thorough investigation by a professional agency having expertise.
"Lots of information has come during the course of the investigation. Various kinds of information has been made available which required a professional investigative agency," the source said.
The accident in which a speeding Coromandel Express crashed into a stationary goods train on the loop line instead of travelling on the main line, indicated issues with the electronic interlocking system which changed the route of the train leading to the collision.
The source said, "Unless there is deliberate interference in the system, it is impossible that a route set for the main line is switched to the loop line."
The ministry had earlier ruled out driver error or a malfunction in the interlocking system, and said that all angles are being probed extensively to come to the exact conclusion how this happened.
The Congress has been demanding the resignation of Vaishnaw for the horrific train accident near Odisha's Bahanaga Bazar station, where 21 coaches of Chennai-bound Coromandel Express and Howrah-bound SMVP-Howrah Superfast Express derailed and led to death of 275 people and leaving over 800 injured.
The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in a tweet, said, "Professor Brian P Schmidt of Australian National University met PM Narendra Modi in Sydney. He praised India's strides in research and science. He says India's ability to do world-class science has become an order of magnitude higher."
Proclaimed offender of the highly sensitive 2015 Bargari sacrilege cases in Punjab, Sandeep Bareta, was arrested from the Bengaluru airport on Tuesday, police said. A lookout notice issued against him by Punjab Police.
With Punjab increasing river water supply to Rajasthan by 500 cusecs, the Shiromani Akali Dal said it would stage a protest in Abohar on Wednesday against Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's "surrender on river waters". Party President Sukhbir Badal will lead the protest that will begin at 11 a.m.
The Customs officials have arrested a passenger at Madurai Airport and recovered 1,565 grams gold valued at Rs 96.18 lakh from him, officials said on Tuesday. A senior Customs official said that the passenger was arrested following specific intelligence. The accused arrived at Madurai from Dubai.
Amar Singh, standing in a long queue at ICICI Bank branch in Green Park, said that there has been length of the line was there since the morning and chaos and confusion rules as bank staff are refusing to exchange the note and asking to deposit them.
Sisodia, through his letter which is written in Hindi, draws attention to the consequences of neglecting the education of the less fortunate, asserting that denying education to the impoverished not only perpetuates inequality but also fuels a vicious cycle of hatred and violence.
