Probe begins into train derailment; one suspended

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 30 (PTI) Two days after aMangaluru-bound express train derailed in Kerala, a high-levelcommittee today began its probe into the mishap even as anemployee was suspended on the charge of dereliction of duty. The members of the committee, headed by Chief SafetyCommissioner of Southern Railway John Thomas, took evidencefrom the train guard, loco-pilot and station and other traincrew at a sitting held in Kochi today, official sources heresaid. It also conducted inspection of the track at theaccident spot at Karukutty, about 45 km from Kochi, onErnakulam-Thirussur route. 12 coaches of the Thiruvananthapuram-Mangaluru expressderailed amid heavy rains in the early hours of August 28shortly after it left Aluva station and was running at a slowspeed. There was no casualty in the mishap which, however,disrupted rail traffic on the route. The sources said a Section Engineer in the rank ofsupervisor has been suspended for alleged dereliction ofduty. He allegedly failed to report to senior officials’cracks’ on the track, the sources said. Meanwhile, train services, which went haywire across thestate following the accident, were returning to normalcy, theyadded. PTI UD JRK VSKIS