Balasore train accident: CBI files charge sheet against 3 officials for culpable homicide, destruction of evidence

The CBI on Saturday filed a charge sheet against three arrested Railways officials for alleged culpable homicide not amounting to murder and destruction of evidence in connection with the June 2 Balasore train accident case, officials said. The CBI had arrested the three – senior section engineer (Signals) Arun Kumar Mahanta, section engineer Amir Khand and technician Pappu Kumar, all posted in Balasore district – on July 7 in connection with its probe in the accident involving three trains that left 296 people dead and over 1,200 injured. The accident took place on June 2 when the Coromandel Express crashed into a stationary freight train at Bahanaga Bazar station in Balasore district, and some of its derailed coaches fell onto the adjacent tracks and collided with the oncoming Yeshwantpur-Howrah Express. In its charge sheet filed before Special CBI court in Bhubaneswar, the CBI has charged the accused under Indian Penal Code Section 304 part II (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), Section 34 read with 201 (common cause read with destruction of evidence) and 153 of the Railways Act. The CBI has alleged that the repair work at the level crossing gate number 94 near Bahanaga Bazar station was done by Mahanta using the circuit diagram of LC gate no. 79, the officials said. The duty of the accused was to ensure that testing, overhauling and carrying out alterations to the existing signal and interlocking installations were in accordance with the approved plan and instructions which he did not do, they said. On 2 June, around 7 pm, the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express crashed into a stationary goods train near the Bahanga Bazar station. After the accident, a few coaches of the Coromandel Express hit the last few coaches of the Bengaluru-Howrah Super Fast Express which was passing from the station at the same time. It was described as one of India’s worst train accidents which claimed the lives of 292 people. At least 287 people died on the spot in the triple train accident and five others succumbed to their injuries in hospitals. The Centre announced that the CBI would be probing the case. on 6 June, the agency took over the investigation. It became involved in the case when allegations of tampering with the electronic interlocking system were raised after the accident. With inputs from PTI.