Railway Sacks 13 Employees for Negligence in Utkal Express Mishap

All 13 were workers at the Kathauli section, where the derailment took place.

Coaches of the Puri-Haridwar Utkal Express after it derailed in Khatauli near Muzaffarnagar.

(Photo: PTI)

Services of 13 railway employees were terminated on Wednesday for gross negligence that led to the 19 August Utkal Express train derailment, in which more than 20 people were killed.

Among those sacked are 11 gangmen, one ironsmith and a junior engineer, the railway ministry said.

All of them were workers at the Kathauli section where the accident took place, when 14 coaches of the train jumped the rails.

The railways has terminated the services of 13 employees under Section 14 of the discipline and appeal rule.

Neeraj Sharma, Northern Railway spokesperson

Under this section, the services of any rail staff found guilty of gross negligence can be terminated without an enquiry.

The railway had earlier sent on leave three top officials, including a secretary-level Railway Board officer, suspended four officers, and transferred one in connection with the derailment.

(With inputs from PTI.)

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