A lack of coordination between two rail employees during a shunting operation led to one of them getting stuck in the buffers of the engine and a power car, causing his death in the Barauni Junction of Bihar on Saturday.
A joint preliminary investigation report, signed by five rail officials, said the two pointsmen - Amar Kumar and Mohd Suleman - failed to properly coordinate with each other, due to which Suleman gave the wrong signal to the locomotive driver, resulting in the death of 25-year-old Kumar. A pointsman's job is to detach train engines from coaches. A clip of the body stuck between the buffers is being widely circulated on social media. The preliminary report has held Suleman responsible for the incident. However, Suleman has defended himself in his written submission and held the locomotive driver responsible for the accident. According to rail officials, another senior-level inquiry had also been ordered.
