Balasore triple train crash: CBI files chargesheet against accused railway officials

The CBI on Saturday filed a charge sheet against three arrested Railways officials in the June 2 Balasore train accident case for alleged culpable homicide not amounting to murder and causing disappearance of evidence, the agency said. The CBI had arrested senior section engineer (Signals) Arun Kumar Mahanta, senior section engineer (in Soro) Amir Khan and technician Pappu Kumar, all posted in Balasore district, on July 7 in connection with its probe in the accident involving three trains which left 296 people dead and over 1,200 injured.

The CBI alleged that the accused had direct responsibility of efficient upkeep of signal and telecommunication assets of Bahanaga Bazar railway station, where the tragedy took place.

It also alleged that the repair work at the level crossing gate number 94 near Bahanaga Bazar station was done under direct supervision of Mahanta using the circuit diagram of LC gate no. 79.

A high-level railway inquiry had found "wrong signalling" to be the main reason for the accident and flagged "lapses at multiple levels" in the signalling and telecommunication department, but indicated the tragedy could have been averted if past red flags were reported.