New Delhi:

A preliminary probe into the incident of the driver-less operating of a freight practice for about 70 km from Kathua (Jammu) to Ucchi Bassi Station (Punjab) in Jammu Tawi-Pathankot part has prompt that each the motive force in addition to the station grasp didn’t fulfil their obligations.

The joint probe report, signed by 5 senior railway officers, has recorded the statements of assorted individuals concerned within the incident and described the flip of occasions which level to dereliction of duties on the a part of the motive force and the station grasp of Kathua.

Completely accessed by Press Belief of India, the report mentioned the loco pilot in his assertion submitted that in addition to stabilising the engine and three wagons of the practice by making use of hand brakes, he additionally positioned two wood wedges earlier than the wheels of the loco in order that it could not transfer.

The report added that, nonetheless, when the practice was stopped at Ucchi Bassi the involved station grasp carried out an inspection which was video recorded and located that the wagons’ handbrakes weren’t in utilized place.

It additional famous that the station grasp of Kathua, who was on responsibility, didn’t stabilise the practice correctly from 6.05 am to 7.10 am. Railway officers mentioned that as per norms, the station grasp has to examine if the brakes are correctly utilized and take different measures to make sure that it could not transfer.

Based on the report, it was a divisional materials practice (DMT) which is used to hold railway supplies for development and different functions. It was stationed at Kathua junction with 53 wagons and it had no brake van (guard’s coach).

The report mentioned that at 5:20 am, the management room advised the station grasp to inform the motive force to take the practice to Jammu however the driver refused because the practice did not have any guard’s coach in addition to a guard.

The management room, as per the report, requested the motive force to close down the practice, be relieved of his duties and take a practice to go to Jammu. The motive force handed over the keys to the station grasp round 6 am and left for Jammu.

The report prompt that the practice remained unmanned from 6 am to 7:10 am earlier than it began shifting by itself as a consequence of a down gradient.

Specialists say that as per the norm the station grasp is meant to provide in writing to the loco pilot to depart the practice unmanned however on this case, as per the report, it was not accomplished. The loco pilot additionally did not make any entry within the load stabilizing register or put his signal there, the report mentioned.

Based on studies, the Divisional Railway Supervisor of the Firozpur division, below which the Kathua-Jammu Tavi part comes, has suspended six railway officers based mostly on the preliminary probe and ordered an in depth investigation.

When contacted, Shoban Chaudhari, Common Supervisor, Northern Railway (NR), advised information company PTI, “In the meanwhile I can’t make any assertion relating to actions being taken in opposition to the officers since additional probe is on.” Based on an official railway communication, the driverless practice ran at 70 to 75 km/h, crossed eight to 9 stations and lined 75 km earlier than it was stopped at Ucchi Bassi by placing obstructions reminiscent of sand and wood blocks on the observe.
 

(Apart from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)