The Accident (June 17th)
10 people died and over 40 injured near New Jalpaiguri.
A goods train hit a passenger train due to malfunctioning automatic signals.
Railway Board initially blamed the deceased goods train driver for disregarding rules.
Who is Really Responsible?
Blame on the driver is disputed due to established safety protocols.
An inquiry will investigate the chain of communication during the accident.
Historical trend suggests lower-level staff often take the fall for accidents.
Signal Failures are not uncommon, but trains can operate cautiously with proper procedures.
Inquiry will look into communication regarding the signal failure.
Would an Anti-Collision System Have Helped?
Yes, Kavach could have slowed the goods train and prevented the crash.
Slow implementation limits Kavach's effectiveness (only on 1500 km of track).
Accident Statistics:
Accident rate per million km is low (0.03 in 2020-22).
However, consequential accidents (causing injuries/deaths) are a concern (48 in 2022-23).
Human error is often cited as a cause, but may not be the case here (crew well-rested).
Underlying Issues:
Staff shortages - Indian Railways has nearly 19,000 loco pilot vacancies.
Lack of independent safety oversight - Kakodkar Committee recommended a dedicated body.
The report of the high-level safety review committee under the Chairmanship of former chairman of Atomic Energy Commission Anil Kakodkar was submitted in February 2012.
Funding limitations - political considerations may prioritize profitability over safety investments.
Way Forward:
The Kalkodar Committee recommends Creation of a statutory Railway Safety Authority with enough powers to have a safety oversight on the operational mode of Railways
Open discussions in Parliament are needed to determine the future direction of Indian Railways.
COMMENTS