JOIN USSeven Railway staffers have been suspended in connection with the accident of Train No 16591 Hubli-Bangalore Hampi Express on May 22 at Penukonda station that killed 25 people and injured more than 55 people.
Sources in the Railway said the suspension was not based on the report by Commissioner of Railway Safety and was done in the face of prima facie evidence after the accident occurred. “This is an initial move. If their guilt is proved, then charges will be framed against them,” a senior official of the South Western Railway stated.
Four of the suspended staff belong to South Western Railway, while three belong to South Central Railway. From South Western Railway, M Sriramulu, Station Master-III, Penukonda Station of Bangalore Division; C Ramanjaneyulu, Traffic Inspector, Hindupur Station of Bangalore Division; B S Chatrappa, Commercial Inspector, Hospet Station of Hubli Division and P Hanumanthappa, Senior Commercial Clerk of Parcel Office, Hospet Station of Hubli Division have been suspended.
From South Central Railway, M Yesu Ratnam, Loco Pilot of Guntakal Division, G Balaraju, Assistant Loco Pilot of Guntakal Division and V Vinod Kumar, Loco Inspector, Guntakal Division have been suspended.