Indian Railways has recommended that the country’s top detective agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), investigate the tragic train crash in Odisha that claimed the lives of 275 people. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw made the announcement without providing further details.
Preliminary reports from ongoing Railway-led investigations suggest that a signal fault was responsible for the three-train collision, which has been described as India’s worst rail accident of the century. Over 1,100 passengers were injured and taken to hospitals, with some families still searching for their missing loved ones.
The move to include the CBI in a separate probe raises concerns, especially because other investigations are already underway. The CBI is usually in charge of high-profile criminal cases, such as major financial fraud and murder investigations.
According to Minister Vaishnaw, the “root cause” of the accident and those responsible for the “criminal act” have been discovered. He blamed it on a “change in electronic interlocking” and advised the public to wait for the final report. The Railway Safety Commissioner is expected to provide a report soon that will throw light on the specific reason for the disaster.
According to railway officials, the engine and coaches of the Coromandel Express collided with a good train due to a signal fault and a change in electronic interlocking. The collision pushed the coaches onto another track, where they collided with the rear carriages of the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, which was speeding at the time. Over 3,000 passengers are thought to have boarded the two passenger trains.
The collision seriously damaged the coaches, necessitating rescuers to cut through the wreckage to reach trapped passengers. For 18 hours, ambulances, medical staff, and rescue teams worked nonstop to save lives and collect bodies.
While train services have been restored on the affected railway tracks, several passengers are still reported missing. Opposition leaders have called for Minister Vaishnaw to take responsibility for the tragedy and resign, while the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has cautioned against politicising the accident.