Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Rayagada, Jan 23:

While teams of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Andhra Pradesh’s Crime Investigation Department (CID) visited the spot near Kuneru railway station in Andhra Pradesh where the Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Express derailed on Saturday late in the evening to study if there was sabotage, the guard of the ill-fated train has made a startling disclosure.

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Reportedly, N Appa Rao, guard of the ill-fated train today told the committee probing the accident here that just before the derailment he was standing outside his cabin and was looking towards the engine.

He is said to have told the committee that he had seen fire and smoke billowing from underneath the engine.

He claimed that he was about to inform the station master when the derailment occurred.