The Railway Ministry sent a high-level team to Chennai on Thursday to assess the explosions on the Bangalore-Guwahati Express. The ministry has also ordered an inquiry by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS).

“A two member team has left for Chennai. It includes Director General of Railway Protection Force (DG, RPF) Krishna Chaudhary and Member Traffic of the Railway Board Devi Prasad Pandey. The team will take stock of the explosions. We have ordered an inquiry by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) as well,” Railway Ministry spokesperson Anil Saxena told Deccan Herald.

Saxena said, normally the CRS does not probe such cases but since the incident is unusual in nature, we decided to give the case to the CRS. 

He said we have also provided CCTV footage to the state police which is investigating the case. However, sources said that the railways cannot do anything to prevent such incidents. This can only be done by the police. 

Officials said that it is just not possible to scan everything that goes onto the platforms and the compartments. 

“Even if we succeed in maintaining effective screening at select stations, it is impossible to do it at every station and halt,” said a senior official.

“For example, there is no baggage screening at Bangalore station. This facility is under construction,” he said. In this context, it would be appropriate to mention that Railways is in the process of implementing the first phase of Integrated Security System in which 202 stations, important and sensitive stations, are to be equipped for all kinds of security needs. 

The project is being implemented at snail’s pace. Only over 50 per cent of selected stations could be covered by now. The system provides for multiple screening/checking of passengers right from the point of entry. 

The CCTV surveillance, screening of persons by metal detectors and baggage screening will be done through large size X-ray machines. Bomb Detection and Disposal System will also be available at such stations.