The derailment of the Utkal Express in Uttar Pradesh’s Khatauli was due to the “failure of railway staff”, a preliminary investigation has said.
According to The Indian Express, the investigation has placed the blame on an engineer, the assistant station master, and the section controller.
Prepared by the commissioner of railway safety SK Pathak, the report said the engineer cut the rails without any approval to block traffic. Besides, he failed to enforce speed limits for the approaching Utkal Express. The section controller did not block traffic for 15 to 20 minutes. He was guilty of not “being sensitive towards the necessity”.
On the other hand, the assistant station master of Khatauli did not block the tracks, regardless of knowing that it was not safe, the report said.
At least 24 passengers were killed and over 150 were injured after 14 coaches of the train went off the tracks on 19 August.
