Siliguri (West Bengal): The Commissioner of Railway Safety, probing the accident that killed 10 people at Rangapani in West Bengal, will record the statement of the seriously injured assistant driver of a goods train after his recovery, a senior official said on Wednesday. .
Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of Katihar division of NF Railway, Surendra Kumar, said the goods train driver who died in the accident was apparently not following the speed restrictions imposed following disruption in the automatic signaling and train tracking system due to heavy rains. . lightning.
Monu Kumar, the assistant driver of the goods train which collided with the Kanchenjunga Express from behind on Monday at Rangpani near New Jalpaiguri station, is undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Siliguri.
Assistant driver Kumar was initially assumed dead by railway officials, but was later found alive with serious injuries.The DRM said the CRS will record the statement of one of the most important witnesses, the seriously injured Kumar, once he recovers and is in a position to speak, which may take a few days.
DRM Kumar said that apparently, the driver of the goods train was not following the speed restriction as per the memo issued to all loco pilots on that section.
"At that time, several trains were passing through the area and everyone was following the restrictions. Apparently the goods train driver did not follow it," DRM said.
He said the driver of the Kanchenjunga Express had stopped the train at red signal as per the guidelines in conditions when the automatic signaling system was not working, when the goods train hit him from behind.However, Kumar said that all aspects related to the accident are being investigated by the CRS, everything will become clear once a conclusion is reached after considering all the evidence.
The DRM said the automatic signaling system and train tracking system were disrupted between 5.15 am and 5.30 am, following which trains were run under caution and speed restrictions with paper instructions or memos.
"The disruption was caused by heavy rain and lightning," he said, adding that the system has been rectified.
Stating that the gateman of a level crossing before Rangpani in the direction from New Jalpaiguri claimed to have alerted the Rangpani station officials that the goods train was running at high speed, the DRM said his statement has been recorded by the CRS. .Kumar said the statements of the gateman, driver and assistant driver of Kanchenjunga Express and some porters of Rangpani station have already been recorded by the CRS.
He said that while the CRS investigation is pending, no action has been taken against any railway employee in connection with the accident.
Officials at North Bengal Medical College and Hospital said 31 patients related to the accident were undergoing treatment there.
Dr S Sengupta, dean of the medical college, said two patients were discharged from the hospital on Wednesday and two others were shifted to private facilities by their families.
Siliguri Mayor Gautam Deb visited the injured assistant driver of the goods train at a private hospital here on Wednesday.
Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of Katihar division of NF Railway, Surendra Kumar, said the goods train driver who died in the accident was apparently not following the speed restrictions imposed following disruption in the automatic signaling and train tracking system due to heavy rains. . lightning.
Monu Kumar, the assistant driver of the goods train which collided with the Kanchenjunga Express from behind on Monday at Rangpani near New Jalpaiguri station, is undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Siliguri.
Assistant driver Kumar was initially assumed dead by railway officials, but was later found alive with serious injuries.The DRM said the CRS will record the statement of one of the most important witnesses, the seriously injured Kumar, once he recovers and is in a position to speak, which may take a few days.
DRM Kumar said that apparently, the driver of the goods train was not following the speed restriction as per the memo issued to all loco pilots on that section.
"At that time, several trains were passing through the area and everyone was following the restrictions. Apparently the goods train driver did not follow it," DRM said.
He said the driver of the Kanchenjunga Express had stopped the train at red signal as per the guidelines in conditions when the automatic signaling system was not working, when the goods train hit him from behind.However, Kumar said that all aspects related to the accident are being investigated by the CRS, everything will become clear once a conclusion is reached after considering all the evidence.
The DRM said the automatic signaling system and train tracking system were disrupted between 5.15 am and 5.30 am, following which trains were run under caution and speed restrictions with paper instructions or memos.
"The disruption was caused by heavy rain and lightning," he said, adding that the system has been rectified.
Stating that the gateman of a level crossing before Rangpani in the direction from New Jalpaiguri claimed to have alerted the Rangpani station officials that the goods train was running at high speed, the DRM said his statement has been recorded by the CRS. .Kumar said the statements of the gateman, driver and assistant driver of Kanchenjunga Express and some porters of Rangpani station have already been recorded by the CRS.
He said that while the CRS investigation is pending, no action has been taken against any railway employee in connection with the accident.
Officials at North Bengal Medical College and Hospital said 31 patients related to the accident were undergoing treatment there.
Dr S Sengupta, dean of the medical college, said two patients were discharged from the hospital on Wednesday and two others were shifted to private facilities by their families.
Siliguri Mayor Gautam Deb visited the injured assistant driver of the goods train at a private hospital here on Wednesday.
