Close on the heels of the recent Balasore triple train tragedy, passengers of the Sikandrabad-Agartala Express were deboarded at Berhampur railway station on Tuesday due to the detection of smoke in an air-conditioned (AC) coach.
Reports indicate that smoke emanated from the electrical installations of the B5 AC coach, causing immediate concern among the passengers who demanded a change of coach. As a result, the train remains stranded at Berhampur station until further resolution.
The East Coast Railway (ECoR) issued a statement addressing the incident, stating, “It is reported that a minor electrical issue occurred in coach No. B-5 of Train No. 07030 Secunderabad-Agartala Express near Berhampur station. The on-duty staff promptly attended to and resolved the issue.”
The swift action taken by the railway staff alleviated the situation and ensured the safety of the passengers.
This incident comes in the wake of the tragic event on June 2, in which a major accident involving the Chennai-bound Coromandel Express, the Howrah-bound SMVP-Howrah Superfast Express, and a goods train resulted in the loss of at least 278 lives and left over 1,100 individuals injured near the Bahanaga Bazar railway station.
In light of the triple train accident, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) announced that it has registered a First Information Report (FIR) pertaining to the case.
The CBI initiated the investigation at the request of the Ministry of Railways, with the consent of the Odisha Government.
The incident being probed relates to the train accident involving the Coromandel Express, Yashwantpur-Howrah Express, and a goods train at Bahanaga Bazar in Odisha on June 2, 2023.
The CBI has taken over the investigation from the Balasore Government Railway Police Station (GRPS) in District Cuttack, Odisha, and a team is already present in Balasore to conduct further inquiries.
Following the recommendation by the Railway Board, the Union Railway Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, announced a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the Balasore train accident on Sunday.
Vaishnaw emphasized the need for a comprehensive investigation given the circumstances and information received from the administration. The CBI’s involvement aims to provide further inquiry and a thorough examination of the incident. (Edited)