Railway probe rules out Didi’s sabotage theory
New Delhi, Sept. 13: Dashing the Union railway minister, Ms Mamata Banerjee’s hopes of a “conspiracy” being found responsible for the Sainthia train collision on July 19 that left 66 passengers dead, the initial findings of the Commissioner of Rail Safety, Eastern Circle, have squarely put the blame on the train crew.
The Trinamul Congress chief has been actively pushing the conspiracy theory, even accusing the Left of being behind the accident.
The report has come close on the heels of the Union home ministry’s decision to turn down the Railway’s request for a CBI investigation into this accident in which the Uttar Banga Express rammed into the Vananchal Express.
The CRS inquiry has described as a “matter of intrigue” the fact that there was “complete inaction” by both the loco pilot and assistant loco pilot of the Uttar Banga Express even as it hurtled towards the Vananchal Express with tragic consequences.
Neither of the two as well as the train guard who can also apply brakes in case of an emergency tried to use them, says the report.
As per the report, among the lapses committed by the train crew of the Uttar Banga Express was its failure to stop at the red signal as it approached the Sainthia station.
Moreover, the report has clearly said that the train was speeding at around 88 km per hour even though it should have been running at a much slower speed of around 30 kmph given that there was a “temporary speed restriction” owing to the presence of a “sharp reverse curve” on route.
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