NIA makes no head way in Kuneru rail mishap

VISAKHAPATNAM: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) inquiry into the Hirakhand Express accident seems to have made no progress to date. It may be recalled that 41 people were killed when Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Express derailed in Kuneru station under Komarada mandal of Parvathipuram Manyam district late on January 21, 2017.

People started making inquiries about this probe when the Railway Board ordered a CBI inquiry into the Balasore rail accident which killed 288 passengers.

Initially, it was suspected that Maoists might have caused the sabotage as the area witnessed several incidents of extremist violence. The CID was entrusted with the job of making detailed inquiries into the incident and later the NIA was asked to conduct an investigation.

Three days after the accident, a five-member team of NIA accompanied by a DIG-level officer of AP visited the Hirakhand Express accident site. In addition to the central team, local CID sleuths also swung into action and began their probe at Kuneru station.

The Commissioner of Railway Safety (South Central Circle) Ram Kripal too made several visits. When asked about the status of the NIA inquiry, a senior railway official told this correspondent that no progress has been made so far. “To my knowledge not a single report has been filed by the NIA so far,’’ the official said.

Collector of Parvathipuram Manyamn Nihant Kumar said he was not aware of any inquiry and said the railway officials would have better information.