NHRC seeks report from Railway Board Chairman on Bhagalpur accident

New Delhi, Dec 11 (UNI) The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sent a notice to the Railway Board Chairman, seeking a report within two weeks on the December 2 Bhagalpur train accident in which more than 38 people were killed.

Taking suo-motu cognizance of newspaper reports, the Commission directed that copies of the news items be sent to the Chairman.

''If the contents of the report are true, they raise serious issue of violation of human rights of the passengers,'' it said.

According to the reports, the Ulta Pul road bridge, which collapsed on the Howrah-Jamalpur Express at Bhagalpur in Bihar, was about to cave in any moment.

The report said a part of the bridge had been dismantled by the railways but trains were allowed to ply beneath it in violation of railway safety norms.

Three years ago, the overbridge developed cracks due to heavy traffic load, it added.

Another report on December 4 said FIR had been lodged against four railway officials.

Article quoted the Eastern Railway General Manager as saying that the 150-year-old overbridge was not a distress bridge and was not in a fatal stage.

However, the report said, ''In 1962, the 150-year-old bridge was declared totally unsafe.'' UNI NR PK HS1805