The detained railway employees have been identified as senior section engineer Arun Kumar Mahanta, section engineer Mohammad Amir Khan, and technician Pappu Kumar. The central investigation agency stated that the suspects were arrested under sections 304 and 201 of the Indian Penal Code for “their actions which led to the incident,” but did not specify what those actions were.

After a month-long inquiry, the CBI has now added the two stringent sections pertaining to culpable homicide and destruction of evidence to its case. In its first information report (FIR) filed last month, which was a re-registration of the Odisha police case, the agency did not invoke these sections.

The detention occurred days after the Commissioner of Railways Safety (CRS) reported the Balasore accident to the railway board on Wednesday. The investigation revealed that the Coromandel Express was on a collision trajectory with a freight train on another track as a result of faulty signaling caused by two botched repair jobs, one in 2018 and one hours before the accident.

“The rear-end collision (of Coromandel Express) was caused by lapses in the signalling-circuit-alteration performed… in the past and during the execution of signalling work related to replacement of electric lifting barrier for level crossing gate number 94 at the station,” according to a report seen by media.

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The Railways did not release the CRS report on the triple train tragedy in Balasore to prevent any “influence or interference” with the CBI’s ongoing investigation, according to officials familiar with the situation.

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Jaya Varma Sinha, member of operation and business development for the Railway Board, stated at a press conference in the nation’s capital, “According to preliminary findings, there has been an issue with the signalling. We are still awaiting the detailed report from the Railway Safety Commissioner. Only Coromandal Express was involved in an incident. The train was traveling at approximately 128 km/h.”

In a significant development in the tragic accident, she stated that the goods train did not derail because it was carrying iron ore and had sustained the most damage on Coromandel Express.

“The freight train did not derail. As the freight train was transporting iron ore, the Coromandel Express sustained the most damage. This is the cause of a large number of fatalities and injuries, Jaya Varma Sinha stated.

She added that derailed cars of the Coromandel Express collided with the final two cars of the Yashwantpur Express.

“The derailed bogies of Coromandel Express entered the downline and collided with the last two bogies of Yashwantpur Express, which was crossing at 126 kilometers per hour from the downline,” she explained.

Sinha stated that the Railways initially prioritized relief and rescue efforts following the disaster.

“After the accident, the railroads first performed relief and rescue efforts, and are now conducting repairs.” Four lines serve the Bahanaga station. There are two major lines. A freight train was on the loop line. At the station, the driver had received the green light. She stated that both vehicles were traveling at maximum speed.

Additionally, the official stated that the helpline number has been made available to the families of the injured or deceased.

“Our assistance line number, 139, is available. This is not a call center number; instead, senior officers are answering the calls and attempting to connect as many individuals as feasible. The families of the injured or deceased can contact us, and we will make arrangements for them to meet with us. We will cover their travel and other expenditures,” Jaya Varma Sinha said.

In the meantime, Odisha Chief Secy Pradeep Jena clarified that the death toll is 275 rather than 288, as it was discovered that some carcasses were counted twice.

“The number of fatalities is 275, not 288. DM examined the data and discovered that some bodies were counted twice, so the mortality toll has been revised to 275. “Of the 275 bodies, 88 have been identified.

“Of the 1,175 injured, 793 have been released after receiving treatment. The number will be revised around 2:00 p.m.,” he added.

According to the Ministry of Railways, restoration efforts at the accident site are in full motion, and officials are closely monitoring the process.

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Over one thousand individuals are engaged in the work. According to the Ministry, more than seven Poclain Machines, two Accident Relief Trains, and three to four Railway and Road Cranes are deployed.

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