Siliguri. The fault of the goods train loco pilot was not the only one responsible for the collision of the goods train with Kanchenjunga Express. Initial investigation has also raised questions on the readiness and vigilance of the station master, the guard of the goods train and the railway personnel at the level crossing.

Chief Security Commissioner of Northeast Frontier (NF) Railway, Janak Kumar Garg, on Wednesday, the second day of investigation, questioned the station master of Rangapani, the loco pilot of the goods train, the guard and the level crossing employee. New facts have been found after questioning about 50 people in two days.

Garg will submit his report after two more days of investigation. Let us tell you that on Monday, a goods train hit the Kanchenjunga Express from behind between Rangapani and Nijbari stations in Darjeeling district. 10 people have died in this accident, while 31 people are still undergoing treatment, out of which one is in critical condition. Now the operation of trains on this route has become normal.

After the accident, the loco pilot of the goods train was held guilty

After the train accident on Monday, many senior railway officials had initially blamed the loco pilot of the goods train for the accident. After starting the investigation, the committee felt that such a big accident cannot happen due to the mistake of just one person. The railway system is not such that one person can destroy it.

Therefore, the investigation is proceeding on the basis of new facts. Apart from the Security Commissioner, officials from many other departments are also involved in the investigation. Information was also taken from the loco pilot of Kanchenjunga Express on Wednesday at the ADRM office in New Jalpaiguri.

Big question, who gave the goods train the right to cross all the red signals

According to sources, during the investigation, the Rangapani station master was asked that when the Kanchenjunga Express had not crossed the next station, then why was the goods train given the permission to cross all the red signals at once? The guard of the goods train was asked that even when the signal was not working, the train was running so fast, then why did he not suspect it?

The level crossing staff were asked why they were not worried on seeing the speed of the goods train coming from behind when the Kanchenjunga Express had just passed on the same line?

The loco pilot is in hospital right now

The assistant loco pilot of the goods train is currently in the hospital. His duty is to alert the loco pilot about the signals. He has also been questioned. The statement of the assistant loco pilot can be important in this case, because he is an eyewitness to the state of mind of the loco pilot and other circumstances. Initial investigation has revealed that the speed of the goods train was exceeding the limit.

Kanchenjunga Express was running as per rules - On the other hand, DRM of Katihar Division Surendra Kumar told the journalists that apart from the railway employees of Rangapani, all the employees of level crossings till the spot have been questioned. Due to rain, the signal was failing since 5:30 in the morning.

Many trains ran even before the incident

There are some rules on how to drive when the signal fails. Many trains ran before the incident. All the loco pilots followed the prescribed rules. Kanchenjunga Express also ran as per the rules. Why the goods train team did not do so is being investigated.

Allegation of Loco Running Staff Association

Amidst the controversy over blaming the goods train loco pilot after the Kanchenjunga Express accident, the Northeast Frontier (NF) Loco Running Staff Association has alleged that if the loco pilots, chief loco inspectors and station masters are not being given proper training on the automatic signal system, then how will they be able to run the train safely.

Association secretary Ram Kishore Prasad Singh claimed that automatic signal system was implemented in various sections of NF Railway, but the training system was not strictly implemented. Even the station master does not get this training. In such a situation, when the loco pilot of the goods train was given authority to cross the red signal of the entire section after the signal malfunctioned, then it is possible that he made a mistake. Mistakes are also visible at the level of the station master, but when he was not given any training, how can he be the only one to blame?

Railways said this regarding training

On the other hand, Katihar division DRM Surendra Kumar and NF Railway's Chief Public Relations Officer Sabyasachi Dey called this allegation of the association baseless. They claimed that training has been given. Now that the accident has happened, many things are being said. When the DRM was asked how many days of training is given and when it was given, he said that he will tell about it later.