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Odisha: Weeks After Massive Train Tragedy, 5 Top Officials Transferred; Railway Calls It 'Routine'

Although the South Eastern Railways (SER) claimed that the transfers were 'routine' in nature, the decision has been considered as a fallout from the triple train crash, which claimed 292 lives.

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Visual from the three-train collision in Odisha
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Following the massive triple train accident in Odisha's Balasore district, the South Eastern Railways (SER) shunted out five top officials.

The list of the transferred officials also included those who were responsible for operations, safety and signalling.

Although the  South Eastern Railways (SER) claimed that the transfers were 'routine' in nature, the decision has been considered as a fallout from the triple train crash, which claimed 292 lives.

The train tragedy was the worst rail accident in three decades in the country.

All about the transfers

According to PTI, the Railway Board transferred Kharagpur Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Shujat Hashmi and the SER zone's Principal Chief Signal and Telecommunication Engineer PM Sikdar, Principal Chief Safety Officer Chandan Adhikary, Principal Chief Security Commissioner DB Kasar, and Principal Chief Commercial Manager Md Owais, news agency PTI reported.

According to the Railway Board order, Kharagpur DRM Hashmi is replaced by KR Chaudhari, chairman of the Railway Recruitment Board, Ajmer.

Principal Chief Signal and Telecommunication Engineer Sikdar has been transferred to North Central Railway as an officer on special duty

Chandan Adhikary has been sent to the Northeast Frontier Railway.

Principal Chief Security Commissioner Kasar, who is the security custodian of all railway assets and structures, including track and fixtures, rolling stock, signalling gears and railway buildings and establishments, has also been transferred.

Principal Chief Commercial Manager Owais has been transferred to Northeast Frontier Railway and posted as Chief Administrative Officer

Previously, nearly within a forntight since the train accident, SER zone's additional general manager, Atulya Sinha, was transferred as well.

Among the zone's top officials, General Manager Archana Joshi continues in her post. She is due to retire soon, an official was quoted by PTI as saying.

Odisha train tragedy

Three trains including the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express, Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express and a goods train were involved in a collision near Bahanaga Bazar railway station in Balasore on June 2.

The section comes under the Kharagpur division of the South Eastern Railway.

Interference with the interlocking system, which is an automated signalling system, is being seen as the major cause of the accident.