A FIR has been registered against unknown persons in the derailment of Kalinga Utkal Express in Muzaffarnagar district, police said here today. On August 19, 2017, at around 5.45 pm (1745), 18477 Kalinga Utkal Express, which was going from Puri to Haridwar, derailed near Khatauli railway station and was damaged. In this regard, sub-inspector Ajay Kumar Singh, who is also the police post in-charge of GRP Khatauli has lodged a FIR at 11.30.
The FIR was lodged under sections 287 (negligent conduct with respect to machinery), 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), 304a (causing death by negligence) and 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees) of the Indian Penal Code and sections 151 (damage to or destruction of certain railway properties) and 153 (endangering safety of persons travelling by railway by wilful act or omission) of Railway Act against unknown persons.
Meanwhile, more than 50 passengers who sustained injuries in the accident have been discharged after medical treatment, while free medical treatment of another 102 injured passengers is in progress.
Hours after a preliminary probe report indicated that the Kalinga Utkal Express derailed due to negligence on the part of those carrying out track maintenance work at Khatauli yard, the Railways Ministry on Sunday sent three top officials, including a Railway Board Member and a zonal General Manager, “on leave” and suspended four others.
A preliminary probe report indicated that the train had derailed due to lapse or negligence on the part of those carrying out track maintenance activities at Khatauli yard. A “glued joint” in the rail, which holds a signal-separation mechanism, was being fixed, without putting in place the mechanism to block train traffic. The Permanent Way Inspector did not place warning signals for oncoming trains.