Odisha train tragedy: Signal error unveiled, 41 victims yet to be identified
New Delhi, July 21: The Ministry of Railways has released the findings from the Commissioner of Railway Safety's report on the devastating triple train accident that occurred in Balasore, Odisha, last June. According to the report, a signal error was responsible for the incident, which resulted in over 293 deaths and more than 1,000 injuries, making it one of the worst rail disasters in India in the last two decades.
The investigation pointed to lapses in the signalling circuit alteration at North Signal Goomty station and during the execution of signalling work for the replacement of the Electric Lifting Barrier. The error caused a green signal to be displayed for the wrong line, leading to a collision between a moving train and a stationary goods train. The report highlighted "glaring lapses and negligence" on the part of railway authorities.
The government disclosed that 41 passengers from the accident have still not been identified, adding to the tragedy's grim toll.
While the report shed light on the cause of the Balasore accident, the government did not provide details on similar signal failures in the past three years. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) recently arrested three Indian Railways employees in connection with the accident, charging them with culpable homicide not amounting to murder and destruction of evidence.
The ongoing investigation also brought to light a prior similar incident at Bankranayabaz station in the Kharagpur Division of South Eastern Railway on May 16, 2022, due to wrong wiring and cable fault. The CRS report indicated that corrective measures after this incident could have potentially prevented the Balasore tragedy.
Reacting to the CRS report, the Congress party accused the Narendra Modi government of compromising on railway safety, emphasising that this "human error" reflects a failure in management and political leadership.
Following the tragic incident, the General Manager of South Eastern Railway, Archana Joshi, was removed from her post, and Anil Kumar Mishra was appointed as her successor.
The accident involved three trains: the Kolkata-Chennai Coromandel Express, the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, and a goods train. As the investigation continues, more details may emerge to shed further light on the events leading up to this tragic rail disaster.
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- With inputs from agencies
