Root cause of Odisha train accident, people responsible identified: Rail Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

After visiting the injured at a hospital in Balasore in Odisha on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said, “Strictest action will be taken against those found guilty in the train accident incident. No one will be spared.”

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw overseeing the restoration work at the accident spot in Odisha's Balasore. (Express photo by Partha Paul)

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Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Sunday said the root cause of the train accident that claimed 275 lives and the people responsible for it have been identified, and said the inquiry report of the Commissioner of Railway Safety would be known soon.

In an interview to state-owned broadcaster Doordarshan Sunday morning at the site of the accident incident, Vaishnaw said, “The Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) was at the site yesterday… CRS has taken statements from all people, and has proceeded fast. The root cause has been identified – people who have done this work have also been identified. The CRS inquiry report – the reason why the accident happened will also be known early.”

To a question whether he could comment if the accident happened due to a technical or human error or because of anti-social elements, Vaishnaw said, “It is not right to comment on this… it is possible to comment, but not proper… I can say only after the independent agency (CRS) submits its report. But the probe is over…”

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He also said the accident had nothing to do with what Mamata Banerjee (West Bengal Chief Minister and former Railway Minister) claimed on Saturday. Mamata Banerjee had on Saturday said the accident could have been averted had the train been fitted with an anti-collision device.

“I want to clarify – this accident is not about the collision avoidance system,” he said. “Whoever has done this, has done such a change – on the point machine, the configuration of the track – based on which everything runs… There has been a change in that configuration, because of which this painful accident has happened. But I will comment on that only after the report of the independent agency is submitted,” said Vaishnaw.

After visiting the injured at a hospital in Balasore in Odisha on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said, “Strictest action will be taken against those found guilty in the train accident incident. No one will be spared.”

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