Hirakhand Exp derailment: NIA team visits Odisha’s Rayagada

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Rayagada, Jan 29:

A 10-member special team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) led by its IG Mukesh Singh arrived here today to conduct its probe into the January 21 derailment of Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Express near Kuneru railway station in Andhra Pradesh on Odisha’s border in which 41 passengers were killed and 50 others were injured.

The NIA team is accompanied by Superintendent of Railway Police of Vijayawada Division Shemushi Bajpai and other senior officials.

This is the second visit of the Central counter-terror agency to Rayagada in connection with the derailment probe.

During the earlier visit the NIA’s team size was of five members.

Sources said the 10-member team which will stay for about 10 days in Rayagada will conduct its probe in four angles.

Firstly, the team will check what was the speed of the ill-fated train at the time of the accident and what is the recommended speed for that section.

Secondly, whether a dummy engine or goods train had run in that section before Hirakhand Express was allowed to run.

Thirdly, whether the track had any cut and if so Kuneru station master was informed.

Fourthly, whether the tracks were old and had worn out.