An aerial view shows the mangled remains of the Coromandel Express train after it derailed in a triple train collision, in Balasore district, in the eastern Indian state of Odisha, on June 3, 2023. (PHOTO / REUTERS)
NEW DELHI – The Indian government said on Friday that the lapses in the "signaling-circuit-alteration" leading to wrong signals resulted in last month's major train accident in the eastern state of Odisha.
The information was given by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in a written statement in the upper house of the Indian parliament, locally called Rajya Sabha.
Vaishnaw cited the findings of the commissioner of railway safety (CRS) in the accident, which has been submitted to the government.
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"The rear-collision was due to the lapses in the signaling-circuit-alteration carried out at the North Signal Goomty (of the station) in the past, and during the execution of the signaling work related to replacement of Electric Lifting Barrier for level crossing gate No. 94 at the station," he said.
Rescuers work at the site of a train collision in Balasore district in the eastern Indian state of Odisha, June 3, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)
The deadly derailment involving three trains took place on June 2 near Bahanaga Bazar station in Balasore district, about 171 km northeast of Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Odisha.
According to Vaishnaw, 295 passengers were killed, 176 sustained grievous injuries, 451 suffered simple injuries and 180 received first aid treatment and left.
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India's Central Bureau of Investigation is carrying out a probe into so far the worst train crash in India's recent history.