India

Odisha Train Crash: Railways Launches High-Level Probe, Says anti-Train Collision System Wasn’t Available On Route

The railways have initiated a high-level probe into the train crash in Odisha, which will be headed by the commissioner of railway safety, South Eastern Circle, officials said on Saturday.

The commissioner of railway safety works under the Ministry of Civil Aviation and investigates all such accidents.

“A M Chowdhary, CRS, SE Circle, will inquire into the accident,” a spokesperson of the Indian Railways said.

The national transporter has also said the anti-train collision system “Kavach” was not available on the route.

At least 238 people have been killed and more than 900 injured in the crash on Friday involving the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express, and a goods train.

While it is not clear what caused the crash, sources indicated a possible signaling 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 railway 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.

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 from 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 operation and maintenance practices prescribed to prevent accidents or unusual incidents.

PTI

Recent Posts

Jamia Students Back Waqf Amendment Bill; Call It A Step Toward Empowerment

The student group 'Shaher-E-Arzoo' expressed firm support for the Waqf Amendment Bill, calling it a…

1 hour ago

India’s Exports To The US Face Limited Impact From Tariff Hike: SBI Report

The 27% tariff hike by US President Donald Trump on Indian goods will have only…

2 hours ago

Waqf Freed From Mafia Control, New Era Of Development Begins For Muslims: MRM

Following the passage of the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 in both Houses of Parliament, celebrations…

3 hours ago

India’s Forex Reserves Surge To $665.4 Billion; Rupee Strengthens As Trade Deficit Narrows

India’s forex reserves jumped $6.6 billion to a five-month high of $665.4 billion for the…

3 hours ago

Laxmi Singh Leads Gautam Buddha Nagar Police To Historic No 1 Rank In IGRS Across All Stations

Gautam Buddha Nagar Police, led by CP Laxmi Singh, achieved a historic feat with all…

4 hours ago

Avoid Rhetoric That Vitiates Atmosphere, Ensure Safety Of Hindus In Bangladesh: PM Modi Tells Yunus

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on Bangladesh to bring perpetrators of atrocities against Hindus and…

5 hours ago