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Accident a clear case of sabotage:
Railway Board chairman

However, he added a new and, perhaps controversial, twist to the sabotage theory by saying that Pakistan's ISI may have been behind the act. "We have got some information about the activities of the ISI in areas close to accident site in recent days," he said.

Addressing a press conference in Patna shortly after his return from the accident spot near Gaya in Bihar, he dismissed doubts about the sabotage theory saying 20-40 minutes was more than enough for any saboteur to tamper with fish plates.

Answering critics who wondered how a goods train could have passed safely over the 86-year-old bridge just 40 minutes before the accident, he said, "You can always loosen the nuts and bolts. The track will not fail completely and will take the load of a train."

'Later, one can always remove the nuts and bolts completely and prompt an accident', he added.

He denied any structural deficiency in the 280 feet long bridge or the track. "In fact, it is one of the best tracks in the railway network," he said adding that the bridge suffered extensive damage after the derailment.

One of the tracks could start functioning by Thursday noon and till then trains will be diverted through other routes, he said.

Denying any lapses on its part, he said the Railways have filed an FIR regarding the accident.

Meanwhile, after a visit to the accident spot along with Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi, ruling Rashtriya Janata Dal president Laloo Prasad Yadav blamed the accident on negligence by the Railways and ruled out any possibility of sabotage.

Chief Minister Rabri Devi announced compensation to victims of the accident, which occurred near Rafiganj in Aurangabad district in Bihar.

Laloo Yadav and the chief minister later visited various government hospitals in Gaya to meet some of the injured.

With inputs from A M Sahay from Patna

Howrah Rajdhani Accident: Complete Coverage

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