Andhra Train Accident in India: Challenges and Pathways to Safer Rail Travel

PWOnlyIAS October 30, 2023 11:47 5722 0

Context: In a recent Train Accident in India -two trains collided on the Howrah-Chennai line in Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh on Sunday evening.

Andhra Train Accident in India: Challenges and Pathways to Safer Rail Travel

Context: In a recent Train Accident in India -two trains collided on the Howrah-Chennai line in Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh on Sunday evening.

Update on Train Accident

About Accident: Recent mishap happened at around 7:10 PM on sunday evening in Andhra Pradesh.
Trains Involved:
- Visakhapatnam-Rayagada passenger special.
- Visakhapatnam-Palasa passenger.
Probable Cause of the Incident- Human Error: The collision appears to have occurred due to human error, as the Visakhapatnam train did not stop even when the signal was displaying red.
Previous Rail Mishap: India witnessed a major rail disaster this year on June 2, caused by faulty connections in the automated signaling system.
- Location: Odisha’s Bahanaga Bazar.
- Casualties: Loss of 288 lives and left more than 1,000 people injured.
- Unfortunate Event: Passenger train collided with a stationary freight train, derailed, and then struck another passenger train traveling in the opposite direction.

Indian Railways: Navigating Challenges and Safety in the Wake of Train Accident

Network: Indian railways is the world’s fourth-largest railway network by route length, and the world’s largest railway network operated under a single management.
History: The first railway line in India was a 34-kilometre (21-mile) line between Bombay (now Mumbai) and Thane.
Passengers and Freight: Indian Railways carries over 23 million passengers and over 3 million tons of freight every day.
Revenue: Indian Railways has registered record revenue figures of ₹2.40 trillion for FY 2022-23.
Heritage: The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway and the Nilgiri Mountain Railway have been recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Significance of Indian Railways

Train Accident

Understanding Train Accident Fatalities in India: NCRB’s Data and Key Causes

India suffered 17,993 Train accident in 2021, resulting in 16,431 deaths, according to the annual ‘Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India’ report released by National Crime Records Bureau.
An average 23,000 people died every year between 2010 and 2021 in Train accident.
The NCRB classifies Train accident deaths into five categories:
- Derailments.
- Collisions.
- Explosions/fires.
- People falling from trains or trains colliding with people on tracks.
- Other causes.
Major cause of death: Majority of Train accident deaths were caused by people falling off trains or being run over by them.

Identifying Key Factors Train Accident in India: Insights from CAG’s 2022 Report

Human error: Human error is the leading cause of train accident, accounting for over 60% of all accidents.
- Human error can be caused by fatigue, negligence, or lack of training.
Track defects: Track defects, such as broken rails, or uneven tracks etc. Track defects can be caused by poor maintenance, ageing infrastructure, or extreme weather conditions.
Signalling Failures: Technical glitches, power outages, and human errors can cause signalling failures, leading to train accident like train collisions or overshooting stations.
Unmanned Level Crossings (UMLCs): Unregulated railway crossings without barriers pose a high risk of train accident as vehicles and pedestrians may not notice oncoming trains.
CAG’s 2022 Report on Safety in Indian Railway: The CAG report highlighted several shortcomings in the safety of India’s railways that include:
- Inspection Shortfalls: Track inspections by Track Recording Cars had deficiencies of 30% to 100%.
- Failure to Submit Inquiry Reports: Delays and failures in submitting or accepting inquiry reports after train accident hinder learning from past mistakes.
- Underutilization of Railway Fund: The dedicated railway fund wasn’t effectively used for safety-related tasks.
- Decline in Track Renewal Funding: Inadequate funding for track renewal jeopardised track safety.
- Inadequate Safety Staffing: Insufficient safety staffing impacted timely execution of safety tasks.
- Non-Operational Track Management System: The web-based Track Management System wasn’t functioning correctly which caused a train accident due to technical fault.

Enhancing Railway Safety in India: Government Initiatives and Measures to Prevent Train Accident

Kavach system: KAVACH is an indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) System for Indian Railways to avoid train accident by collision.
Project Mission Raftar: It was introduced in the Railway Budget of 2016-17. The goal is to double the average speed of freight trains and increase passenger train speed by 50%.
- While the focus is on improving speed, it indirectly contributes to safety by reducing travel time and potentially minimising the risks associated with prolonged journeys.
Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh (RRSK): The government initiated the RRSK in 2017-18, a dedicated fund aimed at carrying out safety-related work in a systematic manner.
Upgradation of infrastructure: This includes the electrification of railway lines, the expansion of rail networks, and the introduction of high-speed lines, such as the Vande Bharat Express.
LHB Design Coaches: These are based on German technology and have better anti-climbing features, fire retardants, higher speed potential and longer service life than conventional ICF coaches.
Elimination of manned level crossings: Efforts are being made to replace them with underpasses, overpasses, and other safety measures to enhance railway safety and avoid train accident.
GPS based Fog Pass Device: A device to help loco pilots navigate in foggy conditions.
Interlocking System: A system to control points and signals centrally. It eliminates the need for manual operation of points and signals by staff on the ground.

Enhancing Rail Safety in India: Insights from Key Recommendations by Various Committees

Committee	Recommendation
Kakodkar Committee (2012)	Creating a statutory Railway Safety Authority. Setting up a non-lapsable Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh (RRSK) of Rs. 1 lakh crores over 5 years for safety works. Adopting advanced technologies for track maintenance and inspection. Improving human resource development and management. Ensuring independent accident investigation.
Bibek Debroy Committee (2014)	Separating railway budget from general budget. Outsourcing non-core activities. Creating a Railway Infrastructure Authority of India.
Vinod Rai Committee (2015)	Establishing an independent Railway Safety Authority with statutory. Setting up a Railway Accident Investigation Board to conduct independent and impartial inquiries. Creating a separate Railway Infrastructure Company to own and maintain railway assets. Introducing a performance-linked incentive scheme for railway employees.

Promoting a Safety-First Approach: Strategies for Enhancing Safety Culture and Infrastructure in Indian Railways

Safety as a culture: Fostering a safety culture across the Indian railways by emphasising the importance of safety at all levels is the need of the hour.
Strengthening maintenance practices: Implement mechanised methods of track maintenance and leverage improved technologies to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of maintenance activities.
Advanced technologies: Embrace advanced technologies, to enhance safety monitoring, early detection of faults, and real-time decision-making.
Implementing a real-time information flow: Adopting a system similar to the Confidential Incident Reporting and Analysis System (CIRAS) used in British Railways is necessary.
Staffing and training: Focus on improving skills, knowledge, and adherence to safety protocols to minimise human errors.
Sufficient funding: Proper utilisation of funds from initiatives like the Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh (RRSK) should be ensured to address safety priorities effectively.

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Train Accident FAQs

The primary causes include human error, track defects, signalling failures, and accidents at unmanned level crossings.

The government is taking measures like introducing the KAVACH system, Project Mission Raftar, and creating the Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh fund to enhance railway safety.

Committees have suggested creating a Railway Safety Authority, improving human resource development, and separating the railway budget from the general budget, among other measures.

Key steps include fostering a safety culture, adopting advanced technologies, strengthening maintenance practices, and providing sufficient funding for safety initiatives.

The report highlighted shortcomings in railway safety, such as inspection shortfalls, inadequate fund utilisation, and staffing issues, shedding light on areas that need improvement.

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Andhra Train Accident in India: Challenges and Pathways to Safer Rail Travel

Indian Railways: Navigating Challenges and Safety in the Wake of Train Accident

Significance of Indian Railways

Understanding Train Accident Fatalities in India: NCRB’s Data and Key Causes

Identifying Key Factors Train Accident in India: Insights from CAG’s 2022 Report

Enhancing Railway Safety in India: Government Initiatives and Measures to Prevent Train Accident

Enhancing Rail Safety in India: Insights from Key Recommendations by Various Committees

Promoting a Safety-First Approach: Strategies for Enhancing Safety Culture and Infrastructure in Indian Railways

Train Accident FAQs

What are the major causes of Train accident in India?

How is the government addressing railways safety?

What are some key recommendations from committees on rail safety?

What can be done to improve railway safety in India?

What is the significance of the CAG's 2022 report on railway safety in India?

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