Orissa High Court blames railway authorities for Balasore train accident and grants bail to employees

The Orissa High Court has ruled that the deadly Balasore train accident, which killed 296 people last year, was due to composite negligence by railway authorities. The court highlighted failures in the upkeep and maintenance of the signal system at Bahanaga station. The court granted conditional bail to three railway employees investigated for their roles in the incident, stating there was insufficient evidence to hold them solely responsible. The judge noted that the investigation did not adequately examine the Station Master's actions. The court emphasized the need for a thorough investigation into the negligence of all railway personnel involved. It pointed out that similar accidents often occur due to poor maintenance of signal systems, indicating a broader issue within the railway authorities.