5 Senior Railway Officials Shifted After Balasore Train Accident

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In the aftermath of the tragic train accident in Balasore, the Railway Board has taken decisive action by shifting five senior railway officials. This move comes three weeks after the incident, which claimed the lives of 29 individuals and left over 100 injured. The shifting of these officials is seen as a step towards ensuring accountability and addressing the lapses that contributed to the accident.

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Officials Relocated

The following officials have been transferred to new positions within the Railway Board:

DRM, Khurda Road: Sanjay Kumar Gupta
Senior Divisional Electrical Engineer (SE), Khurda Road: P K Mishra
Senior Divisional Mechanical Engineer (SDME), Khurda Road: Alok Kumar
Chief Safety Officer (CSO), Khurda Road: P K Das
Chief Operating Manager (COM), East Coast Railway, Bhubaneswar: Anup Kumar Singh

Lapses Identified

The decision to shift these officials stems from the findings of a preliminary inquiry conducted by the Railway Safety Commissioner (RSC). The inquiry revealed significant lapses on the part of the railway administration, particularly in relation to the malfunctioning signal system at the level crossing where the accident occurred.

Transfers and Accountability

The officials have been reassigned to different positions within the Railway Board. The DRM has been relocated to the Northern Railway, the SE has been moved to the South Eastern Railway, the SDME has been transferred to the Western Railway, the CSO has been reassigned to the Northeast Frontier Railway, and the COM has been shifted to the South Central Railway. These transfers serve as a means to hold the officials accountable for their respective roles in the accident.

Comprehensive Safety Audit

In addition to the reassignments, the Railway Board has taken the initiative to conduct a comprehensive safety audit of all level crossings across the country. This step is crucial in ensuring the safety of passengers and preventing similar incidents in the future.

Tragic Incident

The train accident occurred on May 28, 2023, when a passenger train collided with a goods train at a level crossing in Balasore district, Odisha. The passenger train was carrying over 1,000 individuals, making it a devastating tragedy that has raised serious concerns about the safety measures in place at level crossings throughout India.

Commitment to Safety

The Railway Board has affirmed its commitment to passenger safety and has vowed to take all necessary actions to enhance safety measures at level crossings. The shifting of senior officials and the forthcoming safety audit demonstrate the board’s dedication to addressing shortcomings and preventing such accidents in the future.