Railways orders safety drive after coaches roll down track without engine in Odisha

A day after 22 coaches of the Ahmedabad-Puri Express rolled down a few kilometres without an engine in Odisha, Railway Board Chairman Ashwani Lohani today ordered a month-long safety drive across the network.

The drive will be carried out jointly by operating and electrical departments, according to a statement issued by the Indian Railways.

During the drive overseen by chief safety officers, shunting staff and loco pilots or shunters would be monitored.

At the end of the drive, general managers will have to submit a report about their "observations, actions taken and suggestions for improvement," the statement stated.

Last night, 22 coaches of the Ahmedabad-Puri Express rolled down from Titlagarh in Balangir district to Kesinga in Kalahandi district, covering about 13 km without the engine, after it was detached to be re-attached at the other end.

Alert staff put stones on the track and brought the train to a halt, the East Coast Railway (ECoR) has spokesman said.

A panel, comprising divisional heads of operating, safety and mechanical departments, has been formed to probe the incident.

The East Coast Railway (ECoR) has suspended seven employees - two engine drivers, three carriage and wagon repairing staff, and two operating department staff following the incident.