Odisha incident an isolated one: Lohani

The rolling down of an engineless Ahmedabad-Puri Express in Odisha is an isolated incident of staff negligence that is sincerely regretted by the railways, Railway Board Chairman Ashwani Lohani said today in a statement.

"While the concerned staff has been suspended and a high-level enquiry has also been ordered, the railways remains committed to ensuring highest levels of safety in train operations. We have also ordered a one-month long drive over the entire network for sensitising the staff regarding the precautions to be taken to prevent such incidents," Lohani said.

He further said passenger safety, followed by passenger comfort, remained the highest priority of the Indian Railways.

"The subject of safety is continuously monitored at the highest levels in the railway board with the monitoring being done daily at the level of the CRB," the statement said.

Seven railway employees were today suspended when 22 coaches of the Ahmadabad-Puri Express ran without an engine for several kilometres last night.