Panel to examine 39 witnesses during two-day investigation

Officials seek information from survivors, railway staff

 The team led by the Commissioner for Railway Safety (CRS) on Tuesday began an independent inquiry into Saturday’s fire accident on coach B1 of the Nanded Express, in which 26 passengers were burnt alive.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, S K Mittal, CRS (Southern Circle, Bangalore), said: “We are holding a two-day inquiry to ascertain what happened that day. On Tuesday, we interrogated some of the officials, the rest will be questioned on Wednesday. We are examining all the witnesses. The coach has been examined and inferences have been drawn. A report from the Andhra Pradesh Forensic Science Laboratory is awaited. Once their report comes in 10-15 days, I will attach the details of the inquiry to it and submit it to the chief commissioner of railway safety within a month.”

The team is examining a total of 39 witnesses, including railway staff, reserve police officials, central reserve police officials, doctors, local residents who were present at the site and others. The inquiry is being held at Prasanthi Nilayam railway station near Puttaparthi in Anantapur district. The fire accident occurred near Kothacheruvu, off Prasanthi Nilayam station. “We had requested passengers on board the train and the survivors to come forward and give us details, to understand the case and speed up the probe. But, so far, no citizen has approached us. We are thus planning to hold a meeting in the railway head office in Bangalore, so that people can come there and testify,” he said.

Contact details

Mittal said people can also write to him directly, explaining the details of the accident. The address is No 7, Seshadri Road, Gandhinagar, Bangalore- 560009. He can be contacted on phone: [phone].