Bhubaneswar: The Railways has taken swift action following a devastating incident where a goods train crashed into slum houses in Basanti Colony on Wednesday morning. Considering the severity of the incident, the Railways has suspended four employees, including Rourkela Station Manager PK Das, who has been held responsible for the accident.
According to Aditya Chaudhary, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager of Chakradharpur Division, the suspended employees include the loco pilot of the goods train, a guard, and a centring staff. The incident occurred when a goods train lost control while being shunted from one line to another at the Malgodam FCI slum railway siding around 6:10 am on Wednesday.
In a harrowing sequence of events, the train crashed into several shops, hitting an auto, two bikes, and more than 10 shops. Fortunately, a major accident was averted due to the quick thinking of tea shopkeepers, who alerted the slum dwellers. However, if the train had travelled just 8 feet further, many people sleeping in the slum would have lost their lives.
South Eastern Railway General Manager Anil Kumar Mishra and other senior officials have investigated the incident, ordering three officers to conduct a thorough probe. Rourkela Station Manager PK Das has been transferred to Sardega, and action will be taken against those responsible for the incident. Moreover, the railway siding will be shifted from Malgodam.
The incident has created an atmosphere of fear among local residents, who are demanding appropriate compensation for the affected auto, bike, and shop owners.
