Title - No proof of sabotage, say forensic experts

A two-member team of the Andhra Pradesh Forensic Science Laboratories (APSFL) on Tuesday took the sting out of the railways’ argument that the fire on the Tamil Nadu Express on Monday could have been an act of sabotage.

The forensic experts said they could not find any evidence lending credence to the suspicion of sabotage. But, the exact cause of the mishap would be revealed in a detailed report to be submitted to the government, they said. With the forensic experts’ opinion, railway authorities would now be in a fix as safety lapses would be back in focus.

APFSL assistant director Venkateshwarlu arrived at Nellore station on Tuesday morning to collect samples to know the exact reasons for the fire accident that killed 32 passengers on board. The collection of samples continued till late evening. Though he refused to come to an early conclusion on the cause of the fire, Venkateswarlu told mediapersons that they did not find any explosive material that could have caused the fire. The Nellore police also had no information on the matter.

Speaking to Express, SP BV Ramana Kumar said that the whole probe was being conducted by railway police and other wings and the forensic lab report would be crucial in determining the cause of the fire. Of the 28 injured, 13 had been discharged. Of the remaining 15, nine were in a critical but stable condition.