Assam: NFR orders inquiry into railway mishap
GUWAHATI, July 17, 2018: A gateman, Munin Sonowal has been suspended by the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) and has ordered a high-level inquiry into the Sunday night mishap where two persons were killed after a car (AS-23 L 5787 ) was hit by the 12423 Dibrugarh-New Delhi Rajdhani Express at gate No. 32 here, between Dikom and Chabua stations.
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NFR general manager Sanjive Roy had visited the spot on Monday morning to take stock of the situation.
"An inquiry has been ordered at the highest level of the commissioner of railway safety. The report will come within a week and action will be take accordingly," he said.
"I have also visited three other manned level crossings to inspect how the system works and inspected four railways stations," Roy said.
"I have discussed the short comings with senior officials of the division and instructed them to plug it. Besides security, passenger amenities and comfort were also part of the inspection," Roy said.
Asked about the faulty CCTV cameras and scanners at Banipur (Dibrugarh) station and the lackadaisical attitude of senior officials at headquarters towards replacing them, Roy said, "We will look into the lapses and, accordingly, take action."
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A release issued by NFR chief public relations officer Pranav Jyoti Sharma said, "Apparently the level crossing gate was not closed. As a result, the vehicle entered the manned level crossing and was hit by the Rajdhani Express."
"A relief and rescue team rushed to the spot and the section was cleared at 11.20pm by removing the road vehicle which was entangled with the locomotive. The engine of the train, which was also damaged, was replaced. The train left for New Delhi from New Tinsukia at 2.25am on Monday, after a delay of 4 hours and 45 minutes," the release said.
The railway division had announced that they have done away with all unmanned level crossings.
