NEW DELHI: Was the deadly triple-train crash in Odisha caused by human error or technical glitch? The Centre on Saturday ordered an independent probe by the commissioner of rail safety (South Eastern Circle) to ascertain the exact causes that led to the tragic accident accident involving three trains at Bahanaga level crossing in Balasore.
Earlier on Sunday, the railways said that as per initial investigation, it appears that there was some issue with the signalling system that may have led to the crash.
“The enquiry into the accident has been completed and as soon as the commissioner of railway safety (CRS) provides his report all the details will be known,” railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said.
What is the Commission of Railway Safety?
The Commission of Railway Safety is a statutory body under the ministry of civil aviation. It is headed by the Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety.
The commission is responsible for ensuring the safety of railway operations in India.
It does this by conducting regular inspections of railway infrastructure and rolling stock, and by investigating accidents, such as the one that took place in Odisha on Friday.
The Commission also makes recommendations to the government on how to improve railway safety.
The current chief CCRS is Shailesh Kumar Pathak, who is a 1986 batch Indian Railway Service of Engineers (IRSE) officer. There are a total of 9 CRS (Commissioners of Railway Safety) reporting to CCRS, with each exercising jurisdiction over one or more of the 17 Zonal Railways.
The commissioner of the South Eastern Circle is AM Chowdhary, who is probing the Odisha train crash.
The railway safety panel is responsible for:
Earlier on Sunday, the railways said that as per initial investigation, it appears that there was some issue with the signalling system that may have led to the crash.
“The enquiry into the accident has been completed and as soon as the commissioner of railway safety (CRS) provides his report all the details will be known,” railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said.
What is the Commission of Railway Safety?
The Commission of Railway Safety is a statutory body under the ministry of civil aviation. It is headed by the Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety.
The commission is responsible for ensuring the safety of railway operations in India.
It does this by conducting regular inspections of railway infrastructure and rolling stock, and by investigating accidents, such as the one that took place in Odisha on Friday.
The Commission also makes recommendations to the government on how to improve railway safety.
The current chief CCRS is Shailesh Kumar Pathak, who is a 1986 batch Indian Railway Service of Engineers (IRSE) officer. There are a total of 9 CRS (Commissioners of Railway Safety) reporting to CCRS, with each exercising jurisdiction over one or more of the 17 Zonal Railways.
The commissioner of the South Eastern Circle is AM Chowdhary, who is probing the Odisha train crash.
The railway safety panel is responsible for:
- Conducting regular inspections of railway infrastructure and rolling stock
- Investigating accidents
- Making recommendations to the government on how to improve railway safety
It also has a wide range of powers under the Railways Act, 1989. These include:
- Entering and inspecting any railway premises;
- Requiring any person to produce any document or record;
- Taking statements from any person;
- Ordering the closure of any railway line or station.
- The CRS is assisted by a team of inspectors and investigators. The inspectors are responsible for conducting regular inspections of railway infrastructure and rolling stock. The investigators are responsible for investigating accidents.