The investigation into the Kanchenjunga train accident near Rangapani station in Katihar Railway Division, led by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) Janak Kumar Garg, has been completed in New Jalpaiguri. The investigation will now proceed in Lucknow. According to railway sources, a special investigation team will question senior and junior...
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railway officials and employees found guilty during the investigation in Lucknow. The investigation is not yet fully concluded. The CRS has questioned over 100 railway employees. The investigation covered senior officials of the Northeast Frontier Railway to gatemen of the Katihar Railway Division, encompassing various departments such as Operations, Safety, Engineering, Electrical, Signal and Telecom. The investigation suggests that senior officers and lower-level officials could face disciplinary and legal actions. The Ministry of Railways and the Railway Board may take major action based on the investigation report. There is speculation about transfers and suspensions of railway officers in the Katihar Railway Division. The investigation has revealed errors by both railway employees and officers. However, definitive action can only be taken after the Railway Board issues a letter based on the investigation report. The investigation focused on the cause of the collision between the Kanchenjunga Express and a goods train, including the provision of walkie-talkies to guards and drivers in the Katihar Railway Division, the use of walkie-talkies by the guards and drivers of the goods train involved in the accident, the training provided to railway personnel involved in train operations after the implementation of the automatic signal system, communication between the driver and assistant driver of the goods train regarding the red signal, and permission granted by the station master to the goods train to pass the red signal. The investigation also aimed to understand why the guard and driver of the Kanchenjunga Express stopped the train after passing Rangapani station. The investigation indicates that both technical and human errors contributed to the accident, potentially resulting in disciplinary action against several railway officers and employees. The statement of Monu Kumar, the assistant driver of the goods train who was injured in the accident, is considered crucial. He is currently being treated at a private hospital after being referred from a government hospital in North Bengal. While he has not spoken yet, railway officials and security teams from the railway and civil sectors are monitoring him. The CRS and the investigation team may question Monu Kumar in Lucknow. The accident occurred on June 17th when a goods train collided with the stationary Kanchenjunga Express near Rangapani station in the Katihar Railway Division. The collision damaged four coaches of the Kanchenjunga Express and five coaches of the goods train, resulting in the deaths of 10 passengers, including the driver of the goods train and the guard of the Kanchenjunga Express. 43 passengers were injured, 10 severely and 33 with minor injuries. The senior DCM of Katihar, Dheeraj Chandra Kalita, confirmed that the investigation in New Jalpaiguri is complete but other investigations are ongoing. He stated that further action will be taken based on the investigation report and orders from the Railway Board.