Days after Utkal Express incident, Railway Board Chairman resigns

Rescue workers and onlookers stand next to derailed coaches of a passenger train at the site of an accident in Khatauli, in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India August 20, 2017. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi - RTS1CHXX

Railway Board Chairman AK Mital has tendered his resignation. However, sources said Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has not accepted the resignation yet.

Mital was facing flak after the Utkal Express derailment in Muzaffarnagar. On Saturday, 23 passengers died and over 60 sustained injuries when 14 coaches of the Utkal Express, which runs on the Puri-Haridwar-Kalinga route, derailed at Khatauli in Muzaffarnagar.

Prabhu had directed the Railway Board Chairman to fix responsibility after the Muzaffarnagar incident. He also said that he would not allow laxity in operations by the Railway Board.

“Will not allow laxity in operations by the (Railways) Board. I have directed CRB to fix responsibility on prima facie evidence by end of day,” Prabhu said in a tweet.

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