3 railway staffers suspended for North Bengal train crash

KOLKATA: In the first administrative action in the June 17 north Bengal train accident in which 10 people died, Northeast Frontier Railway has suspended the Rangapani station superintendent, the signal technician of the section between Rangapani and Chatter Hat where signals were not functioning, and the guard of the goods train that dashed into Kanchanjungha Express.

No action has been taken against the Kanchanjungha Express driver and his assistant for stopping the train on the section or the assistant loco pilot of the goods train who survived.

Investigation revealed the signals on the stretch were malfunctioning and the Rangapani station superintendent had issued memo to pilots of both trains to bypass the nine faulty signals.

Those suspended were prima facie found responsible for the accident and would be chargesheeted and face departmental inquiry.