Responsible Parties Identified in Odisha Train Accident; Railway Operations to Resume Soon
The responsible individuals for the Odisha train accident have been identified, and the cause of the accident has also been determined. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated this on Sunday. He said that the cause of the accident is related to the critical “point machine” and “electronic interlocking” system for railway signaling.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav announced on Sunday that the root cause of the train accident in Odisha’s Balasore district has been identified. It is expected that the affected tracks will be repaired and normal services will resume by Wednesday. During discussions with journalists at the accident site, he stated that the cause of the accident is related to the critical “point machine” and “electronic interlocking” system for railway signaling. Vaishnav mentioned that changes made in the “electronic interlocking” system had been identified as the reason behind the incident. He denied any connection of this incident with the “Kavach” system.
Tragic Train Collision in Odisha Prompts Implementation of ‘Kavach’ System
The railway is implementing the ‘Kavach’ system in its network to prevent accidents caused by collisions between trains. It is noteworthy that on Friday evening near the Balasore-Bhadrak railway station in Bahanaga Bazar, the Coromandel Express collided with a freight train after entering the loop line instead of the mainline. The Bangalore-Howrah Superfast Express also got involved in this accident. At least 288 people have died in this incident, and over 1,100 people have been injured.
The Railway Minister made an announcement regarding the completion of the accident investigation. According to the Minister, all the details will be disclosed once the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) submits their report. Furthermore, the Minister revealed that the true cause of this unfortunate incident has been determined; however, he opted not to provide further elaboration on the matter. Let the report come. I will only say that the actual cause has been identified, and those responsible for it have been identified.”
Vaishnav Provides Compensation to Victims and Updates on Repair Work
Vaishnav also mentioned that compensation has been provided to nearly 300 victims of the rail accident. He mentioned, ‘We have interacted with patients as well as doctors at Soro Hospital.’ Special trains are being operated from Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ranchi, Kolkata, and other places so that patients can return home after receiving treatment.” In a conversation with journalists at the accident site, Vaishnav stated that the repair work is being carried out at a war footing, and the tracks on the mainline have already been laid.
Vaishnav stated, “We have allocated all the resources at our disposal for the task.” I also want to say that the Kavach system has no connection with this accident. The accident was a result of modifications made to the electronic interlocking system. Mamata Banerjee’s (Chief Minister of West Bengal) comment is not correct.” He mentioned, “Changes have been made in the setting of the point machine. The details of how and why this was done will be revealed in the investigation report.”
Importance of Electric Point Machines in Railway Signaling and Initial Findings of Train Collision Investigation
The electric point machine is an important tool in railway signaling for the swift operation and locking of point switches, playing a crucial role in the safe operation of trains. The malfunctioning of these machines has a serious impact on train operations and can create unsafe conditions during their installation due to discrepancies.
The initial investigation report states that the signal was given, and train number 12841 (Coromandel Express) was supposed to proceed on the up main line, but the train entered the loop line and collided with goods train standing on the loop line, derailing from the track. In the meantime, train number 12864 (Bangalore-Howrah Superfast Express) traversed the down main line, resulting in the derailment and overturning of two of its coaches.
Vaishnav Oversees Rescue, Relief, and Track Repair Efforts at Accident Site
Vaishnav has been present at the accident site since Friday night, overseeing the efforts of rescue, relief, and track repair. He stated that the railway’s objective is to complete the track repair work by Wednesday. He mentioned that the rescue and relief operations at the accident site have been completed.
More than 1,000 workers are working round the clock for the speedy repair of the tracks. The railway has deployed over seven Poklen machines, two accident relief trains, and three to four cranes to facilitate the restoration of railway traffic. The progress of track and overhead electric line repair work is underway. Special trains are also being operated to transport the injured and deceased.
