Odisha train crash due to a change in electronic interlocking: Ashwini Vaishnaw

New Delhi: The commissioner of railway safety has investigated the matter and let the investigation report come but we have identified the cause of the incident and the people responsible for it, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said Sunday morning adding that the crash happened due to a change in electronic interlocking.

#WATCH | The commissioner of railway safety has investigated the matter and let the investigation report come but we have identified the cause of the incident and the people responsible for it... It happened due to a change in electronic interlocking. Right now our focus is on… pic.twitter.com/UaOVXTeOKZ

— ANI (@ANI) June 4, 2023

Vaishnaw said that right now the focus is on restoration of damaged lines which should be completed by Wednesday.

Also read: Odisha train crash: Prelim report says 'signal was given and taken off'; Death toll at 288

Investigators were on Saturday looking into any human error, signal failure and other possible causes behind the three-train crash in Odisha’s Balasore district as officials submitted a preliminary inquiry report into one of the worst accidents that left at least 288 people dead and over 800 injured.

Also read: Odisha train crash: Two reports by Railways give two different versions

The crash involving Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express and Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express, which were carrying around 2,000 passengers, and a goods train occurred around 7 PM on Friday near the Bahanaga Bazar station in Balasore, about 250 km south of Kolkata and 170 km north of Bhubaneswar.