Track repair work was underway

Gross negligence on the part of railway officials came to light in the Utkal Express tragedy as the track on which the train was running at a speed of 100kmph was being repaired. When the speeding train approached the accident site, labourers had already removed around 15 metres of the track that was in poor condition and were in the process of replacing it.

Gross negligence on the part of railway officials came to light in the Utkal Express tragedy as the track on which the train was running at a speed of 100 km per hour was being repaired.

When the speeding train approached the accident site, labourers had already removed around 15 metres of the track that was in poor condition and were in the process of replacing it with a new one.

However, before it could be replaced, the speeding Utkal Express appeared on the track. With no option left, labourers ran for their lives.

During the rescue operation, equipments of labourers were recovered near Coach A-1, thus pointing towards gross negligence of railway officials.

When the repair work was under progress then why was an alert not sounded between Meerut and Muzaffarnagar, points initial probe into the train mishap. “If alert had been sounded then Utkal Express would not have reached Khatauli,” said a railway official.

In addition, even railway staff at the Khatauli station was not aware that track repair work was still underway. Railway officials at the accident site have also indicated towards negligence. “The railway track was found broken underneath coach A-1 and clamps were lying on the other side of the track,” said a railway official. According to principal secretary, Home, Uttar Pradesh government, Arvind Kumar, train derailment appeared to have occurred due to sudden application of breaks.

He told HT there was some work repair work going on the track but no flagging was done for the same. Prima facie there was no indication of sabotage, added Kumar.