278 people died in Odisha train accident.

A CENTRAL Bureau of Investigation (CBI) team on Tuesday began its probe into allegations of criminal negligence in connection with the Balasore train accident. A team of six CBI officials led by Joint Director (Special Crime) Viplav Kumar Chaudhary reached the accident site near Bahanga Bazar railway station on Tuesday. The team was accompanied by railway officials. The team inspected the track and the signal room. The CBI will soon start questioning officials present at Bahanga station, including Assistant Station Master S B Mohanty, and other personnel who are overseeing the signal and track, they said.

After a mandatory notification was issued from the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) to hand over the probe to the CBI, the central agency registered its FIR on Tuesday afternoon.

The registration of an FIR is the starting point of the CBI probe as the agency cannot collect any documents or material, examine witnesses, record statements or conduct searches without it, the officials said.

The central probe agency was entrusted with the probe after preliminary investigations indicated tampering with the electronic interlocking system and suspected "sabotage" behind the accident. The presence of the train is detected through the 'electronic interlocking system'.

"The CBI has registered a case on the accident involving Coromandel Express, Yeshwantpur-Howrah Express and a goods train at Bahanga Bazar in Odisha on June 2 on the request of Ministry of Railways, concurrence of Government of Odisha and then on the orders of DoPT, Government of India," a CBI spokesperson said.

Officials said the agency may need the help of railway safety and forensic experts to get to the bottom of the case.

Following the procedure, the central agency had on June 337 issued an order by the Government Railway Police (GRP) Cuttack under Sections 338 (causing hurt by negligent act), 304 (act causing hurt, endangering life or personal safety of others), 34A (causing death by negligence) and 153 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and Section 154 (act endangering life or life of railway passengers) of the Railways Act. The court took over the investigation in connection with the FIR lodged under sections 175 (negligent act endangering life) and <> (endangering life).

Amid questions being raised over the transfer of the investigation of the railway accident case to the CBI, former CBI Director A P Singh said, "The CBI may not have expertise on technical issues in this case, but they can take railway safety experts on board. Who will be part of the investigation team and will be able to explain how things move and where criminal negligence can take place," he said.

Singh said the CBI will examine all witnesses, visit the spot and come to the right conclusion with the help of forensic and railway safety experts.

"Even in terms of public perception, it is necessary that an independent agency investigates to avoid allegations of internal cover-up. The CBI's job is not only to highlight the loopholes but also how such incidents can be prevented in the future. This approach makes the CBI a suitable choice for investigating the case," he said.

The FIR states that many of the deaths occurred due to electrocution due to collision and breakdown of wires passing over the railway line. Officials said that in the train accident, the coach overturned, breaking the electric poles and falling down the overhead wires.

As per procedure, the CBI re-registers the case of the local police as its FIR and starts the investigation. The central agency can add or drop charges from the FIR in the charge sheet filed after its investigation.

Speaking to reporters in Odisha on Sunday, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had said, "We have recommended a CBI inquiry into the accident."

On June 4, a member of the Railway Board (Operations and Business Development) had written to the Centre seeking a CBI probe. The Odisha government on Monday gave consent to the CBI to investigate the case through a letter.

On Tuesday, the DoPT finally issued a mandatory notification to the CBI, giving the government the green signal to start the probe, following which the agency swung into action and registered an FIR.

Three trains crashed near Bahanga Bazar station in Balasore district around 278 pm on Friday. In one of the worst rail accidents in the country, 1100 people died and more than <> were injured.

Experts have said that both passenger trains were at high speed, due to which so many people were killed in the accident.

The forensic team, accompanied by CBI officials, also spoke to the signal room staff and got information about the use of various equipment and their modus operandi.

South Eastern Railway Chief Public Relations Officer Aditya Chaudhary said, "The CBI will investigate all aspects. It is collecting information and railways will fully cooperate in it," he said.

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