2017 Utkal Express Accident: GRP Files Chargesheet Against 5 Railway Officials

Muzaffarnagar: The Government Railway Police (GRP) has filed a chargesheet against five railway officials in connection with the derailment of Kalinga Utkal Express in 2017, officials said on Sunday. The accident, which took place at Khatauli in UP’s Muzaffarnagar district, resulted in 23 deaths while over 100 people sustained injuries.

GRP Deputy Superintendent of Police Ramesh Chandra said that an investigation found these officials responsible for the accident, reported PTI.

The chargesheet was filed against then Senior Section Engineer Inderjit Singh, then Junior Engineer Pradeep Kumar, then Station Master Prakash Chand, then Section Controller P V Taneja and hammer man Jitendra under sections 304A (causing death by negligence), 147, 337, 338, 427 and 279 of the Indian Penal Code.

Departmental action had earlier been taken against some officials. Pradeep Kumar was dismissed from service, P.V. Taneja and Prakash Chand were retired, and a warning was issued to Inderjit Singh.

Fourteen coaches of the train got derailed at Khatauli on August 19, 2017 while the train was on way from Odisha’s temple city Puri in to Haridwar. The then Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu had ordered an inquiry and announced Rs 3.5 lakh compensation to the next of kin of the dead, Rs 50,000 to the grievously injured and Rs 25,000 to those with minor injuries.