Kanchanjunga Express Train Accident: The Kanchenjunga train accident that occurred in Siliguri city of West Bengal on Monday morning, June 17, has raised many questions about the communication system of Indian Railways, to which an attempt has been made to find answers. An investigation into the rail accident has begun. Railway Board Chairman Jaya Verma Sinha pointed to a possible “human error” on the part of the freight train driver and said that the collision near New Jalpaiguri probably occurred because the freight train ignored the signal and collided with the Kanchenjunga Express going from Agartala to Sealdah.
In such a situation, questions arise that as much as we are allowing Indian Railways to become modern, is the system really becoming modern and safe. Because whenever a train runs on the track, a whole system works behind it, especially the trains run from here to there and from there to here only on the railway communication system. The communication system also has a strong system which everyone has to follow. Wherever there is a slight mistake, an accident happens. Such a mistake is coming to light in the Kanchenjunga train accident. According to the talks going on between the railway officials during the initial investigation, the electronic interlocking system of that division had failed and the trains were being operated through PLC/paper line clearance. Which follows the general rules of Indian Railways. In such a situation, paper line clearance is issued through a prescribed form TA 912, on which the concerned station master signs. Accordingly, the Kanchenjunga Express was provided TA 912 at 08:27 hrs at Rangapani station, which falls under the jurisdiction of West Bengal Railway. The train was then halted between Chattarhat station and Ranipatara station under Bihar jurisdiction.
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According to the message, the Kanchenjunga train was hit from behind. The goods train collided with the standing Kanchenjunga Express. Now many questions arise-
Question 1. How? Who gave TA 912 to the loco pilot of the goods train? When the train is running on PLC and authority to cross the signal has been given by TA 912, no TA 912 can be issued without clearance from the next station. Here train no. 13174 DN, Kanchenjunga Express was stopped, so the path was blocked. That is, the line was not clear.
Question 2. Then how could the goods train move ahead without any signal? If the automatic signalling system of a division fails, all the signals automatically turn red. This is called a fail-safe system.
Question 3. The internal message says that the loco pilot of the goods train was given the signal to proceed by the Ranga Paani station master at 08:42, but there is silence on what happened at Chattarhat station? How did the goods train leave Chattarhat station and hit the Kanchenjunga Express standing ahead? Was the PLC issued by submitting TA 912 form at Chattarhat?
If yes, then why? The route was closed due to the standing of Kanchenjunga. Was there any wrong information? If the goods train was not signaled to proceed and it crossed the signal at Chattarhat station, was it informed through walkie-talkie? If the message was sent, did both the loco pilots ignore the radio message?
Question 4. Why was the Kanchenjunga Express stopped between two stations? Paper line clearance is handed over to the loco pilots at signals through TA 912. Signals are usually installed near a station. This means that no signals were installed between two stations.
Question 5. Was the Kanchenjunga Express stopped at the distance signal just before entering Ranipatara station? If yes, was this message not shared with Chattarhat station and Rangapani station?
The regional manager of Katihar railway has claimed that the loco pilots of the goods train crossed the signals and hit the stationary Kanchenjunga Express. Yes, this could be the reason. But in my opinion, this is very unlikely, because the accident happened in the morning light and not in the dark of night. Although it was raining, the visibility was not that bad. It is not possible that the two loco pilots of the goods train crossed several signals which were red due to the failure of the electronic interlocking system.
Both the loco pilots of the goods train have already succumbed to their injuries. Only they could tell if they had crossed the red signals and collided with Kanchenjunga. Or there was a communication gap between the station masters and they were given TA 912 form by the PLC and were allowed to proceed on the same line where Kanchenjunga was already standing.
Investigation into this accident is ongoing. But it is being claimed that the automatic signal system failed at Rangapani station itself and the track ahead was on electronic signaling system. At Chattarhat station, the loco pilot of the goods train crossed two red signals. According to the claim, the starter signal and advance starter signal at Chattarhat were red. But then, at the same time, very unlikely behavior was done by the two loco pilots. So, I am suspicious.
The truth may come out through an investigation by the Railway Safety Commissioner.
Tags: Indian Railways, train accident, west bengal
FIRST PUBLISHED : June 17, 2024, 19:27 IST