Odisha train accident: The Indian Railways has launched a high-level probe into the train crash in Odisha, which is touted as the worst rail disaster in decades. Three trains, including Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express and a goods train were involved in a deadly accident on June 2, 2023. More than 280 lives were lost, while close to 1000 people have been reported injured. The enquiry into the incident is headed by the commissioner of railway safety, South Eastern Circle, officials said on Saturday.
While it is not clear what caused the crash, sources indicated a possible signalling failure. “The rescue operation has been completed. Now, we are starting the restoration work. Kavach was not available on this route,” Indian Railways Spokesperson Amitabh Sharma said. The Railways also confirmed that the KAVACH anti-collision technology was not available on the route.
The railways is in the process of installing “Kavach”, an anti-train collision system, across its network. Kavach alerts when a loco pilot jumps a signal (Signal Passed at Danger — SPAD), which is the leading cause of train collisions. The system can alert the loco pilot, take control of the brakes and bring the train to a halt automatically when it notices another train on the same line within a prescribed distance.
Contrary to the initial reports, the trains were not involved in a head on collision, but derailed due to signalling fault. After the derailment, 4-5 coaches of the Coromandal train spilled on the adjacent track, from where the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express was passing. This resulted in a crash involving three trains within a couple of minutes.
“A M Chowdhary, CRS, SE Circle, will inquire into the accident,” a spokesperson of the Indian Railways said. The commissioner of railway safety works under the Ministry of Civil Aviation and investigates all such accidents. In February, close on the heels of a head-on collision between two goods trains in Uttar Pradesh, the railways launched a month-long safety drive to prevent accidents such as derailment and overshooting of signals by loco pilots.
Under the drive, senior officers of the Railway Board, zonal railways and divisions were instructed to visit various sections, lobbies of crews, maintenance centres, work sites etc. And carry out a “thorough review of the working practices” to check and enforce safe operational and maintenance practices prescribed to prevent accidents or unusual incidents.