The collision of the Jammu Tawi Express with a local train near Jalandhar on December 14 last year, which claimed 38 lives, was due to a 'blunder' by the station masters of Bhangala and Mirthala, an inquiry report has said.

The accident occurred at Mukerian, some 40 km from Jalandhar.

"Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety G P Garg, in the preliminary report, following a statutory inquiry into the accident, has held that it was caused due to the blunder by the station masters," an official release said.

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The safety commissioner has recommended forbidding the use of very high frequency sets installed at the stations, which are accessible to many railway officials, for obtaining 'line-clear' message, it said.

The provision of voice recorder in Ferozepur Control Office should be expedited and route plan for underground cables laid among the track should be prepared and cable markers provided at specified intervals, it added.

The report is under consideration of the government, the release said.