Probe begins into train derailment; one suspended

Two days after a Mangaluru-bound express train derailed in Kerala, a high-level committee today began its probe into the mishap even as an employee was suspended on the charge of dereliction of duty.
The members of the committee, headed by Chief Safety Commissioner of Southern Railway John Thomas, took evidence from the train guard, loco-pilot and station and other train crew at a sitting held in Kochi today, official sources here said.
It also conducted inspection of the track at the accident spot at Karukutty, about 45 km from Kochi, on Ernakulam-Thirussur route.
12 coaches of the Thiruvananthapuram-Mangaluru express derailed amid heavy rains in the early hours of August 28 shortly after it left Aluva station and was running at a slow speed.

There was no casualty in the mishap which, however, disrupted rail traffic on the route.
The sources said a Section Engineer in the rank of supervisor has been suspended for alleged dereliction of duty. He allegedly failed to report to senior officials 'cracks' on the track, the sources said.
Meanwhile, train services, which went haywire across the state following the accident, were returning to normalcy, they added.