Railway Board Chairman AK Mittal resigns after Utkal and Kaifiyat train mishaps in UP

After two train mishaps in four days in Uttar Pradesh, Railway Board Chairman AK Mittal resigned from his post on Wednesday. He submitted his resignation to Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu.

Three days after the Utkal Express derailment, another train Kaifiyat Express derailed in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday morning.

Earlier, taking strong action against the railway mishaps, the Railway ministry on Sunday sent member (engineering) railway board Aditya Kumar Mittal, general manager (GM) Northern Railways R K Kulshrestha and divisional railway manager (DRM) R N Singh on leave till further orders.

Railway Minister had earlier directed to fix responsibility for the Utkal Express accident.  

"Will not allow laxity in operations by the Board. Have directed CRB to fix responsibility on prima facie evidence by end of day," said Prabhu in a tweet.

Mittal was sent on leave after the evidence suggested negligence on part of Railway staff.