Muzaffarnagar, Aug 23: An unverified audio clip of a conversation between Khatauli station master Prakash Singh and a section controller for Northern Railway in Delhi is doing the rounds. The conversation between the two took place a few minutes before the Kalinga Utkal Express derailed at Khatauli, killing 22 people. The audio clip indicates that the request of the ground staff to block the rail traffic for 20 minutes to carry out maintenance work was denied. Also Read - This University Postpones Medical Examinations at The Last-Minute | Details Inside

Shailesh Kumar Pathak, Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS), confirmed that the Permanent Way Inspector (PWI), who take s care of the maintenance work, had asked for a 20-minute stoppage of all trains to replace a damaged part of the track on Saturday, reported The Indian Express. Also Read - 2,500 Visitors in One Shift, Online Booking | Taj Mahal Set to Reopen From Monday After 6 Months

Sources have also said that the PWI had sent a written request to the Khatauli station master. While the railways trying to verify the clip that has been obtained, sources told Indian Express that the station staff said one of the voices was that of the station master. Also Read - Kangana Ranaut Wants 'Terrorism Free' Film Industry After Yogi Adityanath's Announcement

“Sir, yeh PWI 20 minute ka block maangte hain (Sir, PWI is asking for a 20-minute block),” says a man, purportedly station master Prakash Singh.

“Ye kaunsa block hai (Which block is this)?” asks another man, allegedly a section controller for Northern Railway in Delhi.

“Main line, loop line sab bandh ho jayengi. Main keh raha hoon gaadiyon ka group hai, kaise mil jayega block (Main line, loop line, everything will be closed. I have said there is a group of trains, how will we get a block),” says Prakash Singh.

The request for a block was turned down again in another conversation. (Also Read: Congress Targets Modi Govt On Utkal Express Derailment, Says 259 Passengers Killed Since May 2014)

“Sir, (Kalinga Utkal Express) Meerut city se nikal rahi hai. (Sir, Kalinga Utkal Express is leaving Meerut.),” says the section controller.

“De dein, Sir, 15 minute ka inko (Shall we give it a 15-minute block?)” asks the station master.

“Nahin Nahin, block ka time hi nahin hai bhai sahib, gaadiyan bahut hain (There is no time to give a block now. There are many trains.)” the controller replies.

Khatauli Station Supervisor Rajendra Singh, who said that the staff had no information of the maintenance work, refused to speak to the media.

“Lives have been lost only because of a human failure. Work was started on the track without permission. If the PWI’s request for a block is refused, he doesn’t have the authority to cut the track without informing the station master,” Commissioner of Railway Safety Pathak was quoted as saying by Indian Express. (Also Read: Local Muslims Saved Our Lives, Claim Injured Hindu Saints Who Survived)

However, confirming the request for a traffic block, Pathak said, “The request was placed at 5.10 pm but it was refused as it was a busy time. It is the job of a PWI to make sure the track can take the train’s load. If he thought this was not the case and a block was still denied, he should have followed the standard operating procedure. Red flags should have been placed at a distance of 1,200 m and 600 m from the spot and crackers should have been placed on the tracks to alert the driver and stop the train. This was not done.”

Pointing at the audio clips, a source close to Pathak told IE that “the primary responsibility will fall not just on the track maintenance people but also on the operations control staff who denied the request”.

Another audio clip obtained by TOI suggests another conversation that seems to have taken place between a gateman and another railway employee after the Utkal Express derailment on Saturday.

In the audio clip, the rail employee asks another about the Utkal Express derailment. To which the gateman replies that welding work was underway and a traffic block was denied but the JE started the work. He said that at that time, a piece of track was cut and kept apart for maintenance as it could not be welded and the train came. “I was closing the gate… Utkal was coming and there was no track, so the train derailed,” he said, adding, “The welding machine was in the middle of the track.”