Three days after the tragic triple train accident in Odisha's Balasore, it was revealed that the loco pilot and assistant loco pilot of Coromandel Express that met the severe accident on June 2 are alive, stable and under treatment.
Coromandel Express loco pilot Gunandhi Mohanty and assistant loco pilot Hajari Behera have suffered injuries and are under treatment in a private hospital in Bhubaneswar. Their health conditions are stated to be stable and out of danger, South Eastern Railway's Chief Public Relation Officer (CPRO), Aditya Kumar Choudhury said.
He also informed that the health condition of the guard of the goods train is also stable.
Both the loco pilot and assistant loco pilot have given their preliminary statements about the incident, Choudhury said.
Railway Board member Jaya Varma Sinha had earlier said that the pilot moved forwards to the loop line as there was a green signal.
"We had spoken with the driver and he confirmed that the signal was green. Our staff is dedicated and works with dedication. He neither had passed when the signal was red, nor was overspeeding. The driver sustained severe injuries and he said that the signal was green," said Sinha in New Delhi.
According to Sinha, the data record (sealed record which is part of the investigation) also suggests that the signal was green.
Secondly, in every loco there is a speedometer and the chart which records the speed. The speedometer graph has been taken out and he (driver) was in his permissible speed limit. This is a high-speed section (130 kmph permitted) and the train driver was at 128 kmph, Sinha said
Meanwhile, Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety Shailesh Kumar Pathak visited the accident spot on Monday and said that Indian Railways Safety's South-Eastern Circle has initiated their independent inquiry into the train accident.
"Commissioner of Railway Safety South-Eastern Circle has initiated their independent inquiry and as soon as the report will be completed, we will share the details. It is impossible and not correct to say anything with completion of the inquiry," Pathak told media persons.
In a related development, the GRP has registered a case under Sections 337, 338, 304-A and 34 of IPC, 1980 and Sections 153, 154 and 175 of Railway Act 1989 following a complaint filed by Balasore GRP sub-inspector (SI) Papu Kumar Naik. In its FIR, the GRP mentioned negligence in part of the railways.
Returning Officer visit strong room; checks security arrangement, preparation for poll counting
While the state of Tripura preparing for the counting of polls to the 2 parliamentary constituencies, the Returning Officer of the West Tripura Parliamentary Seat Dr Vishal Kumar on Tuesday visited the string room here at Agartala Umakanta Academy and checked the security arrangement.
Those who looted the country will have to pay back: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that action against corrupt people would continue, and those who looted the country will have to pay back.
Congress and INDIA bloc making every effort to save Constitution: Rahul Gandhi
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said that his party and the INDIA bloc are making every effort to save the Constitution while the BJP, PM Narendra Modi and the RSS are bent on destroying it.
Mamata Banerjee skipped Ram Temple inauguration to 'please illegal infiltrators': Amit Shah
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday claimed that despite being invited, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee refused to attend the Ram Temple inauguration in Ayodhya just to "please the illegal infiltrators" in her state.
Home Minister doctored video: 16 leaders summoned, police teams sent to seven states
Around 16 leaders, including Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, in seven states have been summoned by Delhi Police in connection with a doctored video of Union Home Minister Amit Shah,
PM Modi writes to BJP candidates ahead of third phase, urges them to spotlight Congress' politics of 'division and appeasement'
Calling the ongoing Lok Sabha elections a significant moment to get rid of the hardships endured during the decades-long Congress rule, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has personally written a letter to the BJP candidates ahead of the third phase,
Poster featuring Yasin Malik, ex-PM Manmohan Singh & seeking votes for Cong removed by Delhi Police
A controversial poster featuring jailed Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and 'urging people to vote for Congress' was taken down by Delhi Police on Tuesday.
Unwarranted & unsubstantiated imputations on serious matter: India on US media report on Pannun plot case
India on Tuesday said a report published by a media outlet in the US made unwarranted and unsubstantiated imputations on a serious matter involving an alleged plot to kill Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.