Odisha Train Accident: Railway Board Recommends CBI Probe Into Tragedy, Says Ashwini Vaishnaw

The Railway Board has recommended that the CBI investigate the Odisha train accident, according to Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Sunday that the Railway Board had recommended that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigate the tragic Odisha train accident that killed 275 people and injured over 1000 others.

"The rescue operation was completed, and restoration work is currently underway," Ashwini Vaishnaw told the media. "The track work is finished, and the overhead wiring is being installed. Patients are being treated in hospitals. Restoration work has begun alongside the rescue operation," he added. 

"The manner in which this accident occurred, based on the conditions and administrative information. The Railway Board has recommended that the CBI conduct an investigation," he said.

Earlier in the day, the railways virtually ruled out driver error and system malfunction, implying that the Odisha triple train accident was caused by "sabotage" and tampering with the electronic interlocking system. The "root cause" of the accident, as well as the "criminals" responsible for it, have been identified, according to Vaishnaw.

"It happened due to a change made in the electronic interlocking and point machine," Vaishnaw said at the scene of the accident in Balasore district, according to PTI. 

Top railway officials, according to a PTI report, explained how the point machine and interlocking system work. They claimed the system is "error proof" and "fail safe," but did not rule out outside intervention.

Officials also gave the driver of the Coromandel Express (Coromandel Express) a clean chit on Sunday, stating that he had the green light to proceed and was "not over-speeding."

According to a preliminary report from the ground obtained by PTI on Friday, the Coromandel Express entered the loop line at the station where an iron ore-laden goods train was parked.

It also stated that the signal was 'given and taken off for the up main line for train number 12841 (Coromandel Express), the train entered the loop line, dashed the goods train and derailed'. Meanwhile, train 12864 was passing through the down main line when two of its coaches derailed and capsized.