The rail safety commissioner of East Central Railway (ECR), Sudarshan Nayak, on Friday began a probe into the cause and lapses leading to the railway overbridge collapse at Maripur, almost 45 hours after the accident.

Nayak was accompanied by ECR assistant general manager Ajay Shukla, the divisional railway manager (Sonepur), Rajesh Kumar Tiwary, and other officials at the wreckage site. Nayak examined the damaged wagons of the goods train and the damaged tracks that were replaced on Thursday night. He also checked the dilapidated railway overbridge and the debris. A team of experts from the engineering and building cell of Sonepur division accompanied the rail safety commissioner, who is in charge of the railway overbridge.

Nayak said he conducted an inquiry into the technical aspects leading to collapse of the rail overbridge. “The probe report would be submitted at least after one-and-a-half months. Officials found guilty during the course of investigations would not be spared,” he said, while interacting with the media at the site.

Nayak spent at least one-and-a-half hours at the wreckage site and talked to witnesses and residents.

Jai Prakash, whose house is located adjacent to the bridge, said he was watching a cricket match in the afternoon on television when the accident occurred. “I first heard the sound of derailment of wagons. Within seconds, there was a big noise and I saw the top of the bridge give way. We could feel the jolt and my house and the TV set shook.”

Sunil Kumar, who was injured in the mishap, said: “I was travelling in an autorickshaw when the bridge caved in. We hurtled down but thankfully, the vehicle fell on the goods train passing from below. Otherwise, we would have perished under the debris.”

Nayak also met injured persons and vegetable sellers undergoing treatment at the sadar hospital.