In a rarest of rare incidents in the Railways history and first time in Jammu and Kashmir, a Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) moved on the tracks without the driver and covered a distance of over 20 kilometers thereby catching the railway officials napping and exposing chinks in the safety measures.
Taking the incident seriously, the Divisional Railways Manager (DRM), Ferozepur Division, Vishesh Choubey ordered immediate suspension of five officials including the Manager of Qazigund Railway Station, from where the DMU moved, and directed Chief Area Manager of Kashmir valley to conduct a detailed inquiry into the incident, which has taken place due to gross negligence of the railway staff, and submit a report within a period of seven days.
Official sources said that after scheduled services on Qazigund-Srinagar-Budgam section, the Diesel Multiple Unit was parked in the yard at Qazigund Railway Station last evening and after completion of their respective duties the staff of the railways left for their respective destinations.
However, at around 1.45 am, the train suddenly moved from the yard and entered the main track without driver thereby catching the concerned railway staff napping. Due to sloppy gradient, the DMU continued to move freely and its speed even touched 80 kilometers per hour.
Sources said that Railway Protection Force (RPF) and State police personnel deployed for the security of the train, and railway officials were in sleep when the train started moving towards Srinagar. However, a police jawan noticed the movement of the DMU at Sadoora Police Station and informed higher railway officials, RPF and GRP officials.
Accordingly, the concerned authorities at other railway stations were sounded for necessary steps to stop the train. However, before any arrangement could be made, the DMU crossed two more stations Anantnag and Bijbehara, sources said.
After traversing several kilometers long distance and covering five railway stations, the DMU came to a halt due to steep gradient at Panjgam Railway Station, where the railway authorities with the assistance of RPF and GRP personnel had also erected poles and laid concrete blocks as well as large number of sand bags to stop the train.
Soon after the train stopped, the security forces personnel cordoned the DMU apprehending that some anti-national elements might be plying the train. However, none was found and finally it came to the fore that DMU moved on the track without any driver due to the gross negligence on the part of concerned authorities at Qazigund Railway Station.
Later, the DMU was taken back to Qazigund and parked there in the yard.
When the Divisional Railways Manager (DRM), Ferozepur Division, Vishesh Choubey came to know about the incident this morning, he immediately ordered suspension of five officials posted at Qazigund Police Station including Station Manager, driver of the DMU and some guards.
He also directed Chief Area Manager of Northern Railways, Srinagar, Opinder Singh to conduct a detailed enquiry into the incident and submit report within seven days as to how the train moved for such a long distance without any of the railway staff or security personnel noticing it.
"More heads will roll on the receipt of inquiry report as this is a very serious lapse on the part of concerned staff", the DRM said when contacted, adding "this incident has also put a question mark on the safety measures being taken in the Kashmir valley".
To a question, he said, "this is the rarest of the rare incidents in the railways and is fraught with danger of causing massive destruction".
About the possibilities behind moving of train, official sources said, "the train can move from loop in the yard to main track only when the link between them remains in position after parking of DMU and brakes are not properly applied", adding "even the possibility of someone intentionally removing the brakes and then positioning the track link cannot be ruled out".
When contacted, IG GRP, Naveen Aggarwal said, "prima facie the negligence on the part of railway officials seems to be the reason behind the grave incident but we have registered a case at Qazigund GRP Station under Railways Act for investigations at our level", adding "we will work on all the angles to ascertain the real cause behind the moving of train without driver".
Denial of visa to Jitendra Singh
Teachers Federation demands HRA
Cracks in Gojawara Houses
Taking the incident seriously, the Divisional Railways Manager (DRM), Ferozepur Division, Vishesh Choubey ordered immediate suspension of five officials including the Manager of Qazigund Railway Station, from where the DMU moved, and directed Chief Area Manager of Kashmir valley to conduct a detailed inquiry into the incident, which has taken place due to gross negligence of the railway staff, and submit a report within a period of seven days.
Official sources said that after scheduled services on Qazigund-Srinagar-Budgam section, the Diesel Multiple Unit was parked in the yard at Qazigund Railway Station last evening and after completion of their respective duties the staff of the railways left for their respective destinations.
However, at around 1.45 am, the train suddenly moved from the yard and entered the main track without driver thereby catching the concerned railway staff napping. Due to sloppy gradient, the DMU continued to move freely and its speed even touched 80 kilometers per hour.
Sources said that Railway Protection Force (RPF) and State police personnel deployed for the security of the train, and railway officials were in sleep when the train started moving towards Srinagar. However, a police jawan noticed the movement of the DMU at Sadoora Police Station and informed higher railway officials, RPF and GRP officials.
Accordingly, the concerned authorities at other railway stations were sounded for necessary steps to stop the train. However, before any arrangement could be made, the DMU crossed two more stations Anantnag and Bijbehara, sources said.
After traversing several kilometers long distance and covering five railway stations, the DMU came to a halt due to steep gradient at Panjgam Railway Station, where the railway authorities with the assistance of RPF and GRP personnel had also erected poles and laid concrete blocks as well as large number of sand bags to stop the train.
Soon after the train stopped, the security forces personnel cordoned the DMU apprehending that some anti-national elements might be plying the train. However, none was found and finally it came to the fore that DMU moved on the track without any driver due to the gross negligence on the part of concerned authorities at Qazigund Railway Station.
Later, the DMU was taken back to Qazigund and parked there in the yard.
When the Divisional Railways Manager (DRM), Ferozepur Division, Vishesh Choubey came to know about the incident this morning, he immediately ordered suspension of five officials posted at Qazigund Police Station including Station Manager, driver of the DMU and some guards.
He also directed Chief Area Manager of Northern Railways, Srinagar, Opinder Singh to conduct a detailed enquiry into the incident and submit report within seven days as to how the train moved for such a long distance without any of the railway staff or security personnel noticing it.
"More heads will roll on the receipt of inquiry report as this is a very serious lapse on the part of concerned staff", the DRM said when contacted, adding "this incident has also put a question mark on the safety measures being taken in the Kashmir valley".
To a question, he said, "this is the rarest of the rare incidents in the railways and is fraught with danger of causing massive destruction".
About the possibilities behind moving of train, official sources said, "the train can move from loop in the yard to main track only when the link between them remains in position after parking of DMU and brakes are not properly applied", adding "even the possibility of someone intentionally removing the brakes and then positioning the track link cannot be ruled out".
When contacted, IG GRP, Naveen Aggarwal said, "prima facie the negligence on the part of railway officials seems to be the reason behind the grave incident but we have registered a case at Qazigund GRP Station under Railways Act for investigations at our level", adding "we will work on all the angles to ascertain the real cause behind the moving of train without driver".
Denial of visa to Jitendra Singh
Teachers Federation demands HRA
Cracks in Gojawara Houses
No comments:
Post a Comment