Ludhiana (Punjab): Commissioner for Railway Safety (CRS) Bhupinder Singh on May 16 began inquiry into the Frontier Mail fire by meeting the injured passengers in hospitals to get a "first-hand account" of the tragic incident that claimed 38 lives.

"I started my work from today itself as I did not want to miss vital evidence that could provide real, vital and authentic clues to the disaster," he said after visiting the two hospitals where the injured are convalescing.

The CRS, who was scheduled to begin his probe from May 18, met each of the 14 injured during his three-hour visit to Christian Medical College and Dayanand Medical College hospitals.

He declined to divulge the information provided by the injured saying the inquiry is confidential. "Even though the job is complicated, I will finish the inquiry as early as possible," he added.

Singh said that in normal course, an inquiry takes 10-14 days, but in this case it may take some more time. The probe would be conducted with an open mind and would not be influenced by various theories doing the rounds, he said.

He was accompanied by a number of railway officials and is expected to inspect the three badly- damaged coaches of the train which have been brought to the local railway yard.

People, including passengers, having information relating to the fire can appear before the CRS, railway sources said.

PTI