First Arrests In Balasore Train Tragedy: Engineer & Technician Among 3 Arrested by CBI

New Delhi: In a significant development, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested three Railway employees believed to be responsible for the Balasore Train Tragedy, which claimed the lives of 291 people. The three individuals taken into custody are all employees of the railway system and have been identified as Arun Kumar Mohanta, a senior Section engineer, Mohammad Amir Khan, a section engineer, and Pappu Kumar, a technician.

The arrests come shortly after the Commissioner Railway Safety (CRS) released a report attributing the catastrophic Balasore train accident to human errors. The report emphasized the failure to report previous warning signs, despite identifying “lapses at multiple levels,” and indicated that the accident could have been prevented.

According to the CRS report, the incident resulted from a collision between the Coromandel Express and a goods train from the rear. This collision was caused by deficiencies in the procedure for “signalling-circuit-alteration” conducted at the North Signal Goomty station.

The CBI has charged the three arrested individuals under sections 304 and 201 CrPC in connection with the Balasore Train Tragedy. The investigation and subsequent arrests shed light on the grave consequences of the negligence and procedural shortcomings within the railway system, highlighting the need for enhanced safety measures and stricter adherence to protocols.

Efforts are now underway to hold those responsible accountable for their actions.