Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Cuttack, Oct 3:

The Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) today formally began its probe into the train mishap at the Kathajodi PH with the recording of statements of 18 witnesses in Odisha’s Cuttack city.

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CRS Sudarshan Naik informed that the preliminary probe report of the mishap would be submitted within a month.

“We have recorded statements of 18 witnesses which include officials of Government Railway Police (GRP), Fire Brigade and Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) personnel and six passengers who were injured in the mishap. We are examining all technical aspects including signaling to ascertain the reason behind the accident. It will take around one month to submit the preliminary report,” Naik said.

The drivers and guard of the affected trains, however, did not appear before the CRS to record their statements, sources revealed.

Naik refused to comment when asked about the possible reason behind the mishap by stating that it would be too early to comment on that until the probe is complete.

He said another 20 witnesses will be examined in Bhubaneswar.

Naik maintained that though nothing conclusive can be said as of now but prima facie it appears to be a case of jumping of signal.

It may be recalled here that two persons were killed and 35 others had sustained injuries when a Bhadrak-bound passenger train had rammed into a stationary goods train from the rear at the Kathajodi PH on September 29.

Meanwhile, late this evening GRP arrested absconding train guard Haladhar Behera from the East Coast Railways headquarters in Bhubaneswar. Behera was on the run since the accident.