Why Train Accidents Occur in India
- MANISH KUMAR
- Jul 15
- 5 min read
In the past two to three decades, technological advancement has reached its peak. Indian Railways has also embraced many of these innovations—from the integration of rail apps to the Kavach system—to ensure a safer and more convenient train experience for passengers. Features like "Spot Your Train" now allow travelers to track their journeys in real time, enhancing safety and awareness. Yet, despite these efforts, unfortunate rail accidents still occur, leading to the tragic loss of lives and resources.
In this weblog, we can discuss the occasions because of which Indian railways injuries occur and the safety levels the technological integration provides to Indian trains.
Reasons Behind Rail Accidents In India
According to NCRB (National Crime Records Bureau), Major Indian rail injuries in India fall beneath five categories.
Derailments – It refers to rail accidents wherein one or greater train carriages burst off the tracks due to music defects, mechanical failures, or human blunders.
Collisions – When two or greater trains collide with every other because of signalling mistakes, miscommunication, or other operational disasters.
Explosions/Fires – Indian railways injuries because of explosions or fires occur on trains or at railway stations because of factors like electric faults, arson, or gas leaks.
People Falling from Trains/Colliding with People on Tracks – It covers injuries concerning individuals falling from transferring trains or getting hit by using trains even as crossing or on foot along railway tracks.
Other Causes – Other causes may encompass those accidents that don't fall into the types mentioned above. It can show up because of a few unexpected activities like bridge collapses, landslides, or natural weather. This class additionally includes those accidents for which the motive is unknown.
Top Technology Dedicated To the Safety of Indian Railways
Indian Railways has added numerous technologies in trains and at railway stations to make sure the safety of rail passengers. Here are some of the leading train protection technologies of Indian Railways.
LHB Coaches the Replacement ICF Coach
In 1999, LHB coaches were added to the Indian railways. It was first made by way of the German organisation Linke Hofmann Busch. The coach is ready with new technologies which are greater handy and more secure. LHB coaches update ICF (Integral Coach Factory) coaches of Indian Railways. The coach is taken into consideration more secure and might run at over 160 kmph velocity.
LHB coaches have an anti-telescopic protection design which means that If a train crashes, the coaches behind it get separated from the coaches ahead of it in order that the coaches at the back of it don’t get worried inside the accident and get affected.
Kavach to Ensure Zero Rail Accidents
Kavach Automatic train protection device is a make-in-India safety machine whose objective is to acquire 0 train accidents within the united states. It is designed through Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RSDO). According to Indian railways, it is the cheapest SIL-four (Safety Integrity Level) device. Trains with this system have a 1 in 10,000 years risk of an errors on this system.
This gadget mechanically breaks in conditions: If the train doesn’t forestall at a pink light or if the train is about to crash into any other train. This device works simplest if it’s installed on both trains. Presently, the Kavach system is set up at high-density routes, consisting of Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi, and Guwahati.
Block Proving Axle Counter in Indian Railways
Block Proving Axle Counter (BPAC) is a train detection gadget established on trains, which mechanically detects the crossing of a train between factors at the song. It doesn’t allow two trains to be within the same block section on the identical time, which guarantees the protection of trains.
The Block Proving Axle Counter device includes sensors at each axle which enables it to locate the rate and route of the trains. The facts helps in correct railway signalling, especially in electrified railways.
Auxiliary Warning System in Trains
Auxiliary Warning System, also called Automatic Train Protection (ATP), is a manage gadget that monitors a train’s pace and checks if the train is going for walks at the accepted pace allowed through signalling. It is a complicated generation delivered by using Indian railways in the 1980s.
AWS follows 3 standards: 1) If the sign is purple, the authorised pace is limited to fifteen kmph 2) If the signal is yellow, the accepted velocity is 38 km/h three) If the signal is inexperienced or double yellow meaning speed is 70 km/h.
Self-Propelled Ultrasonic Rail Testing
Self-Propelled Ultrasonic Rail Testing (SPURT) vehicle is an advanced era in Indian Railways that detects the inner flaws in rails. It analyses real-time defects two times a year on the busy routes New Delhi – Howrah, New Delhi – Mumbai Central, and Mathura Jn – Chennai. In sooner or later, SPURT cars take a look at 80-20 km of track.
SPURT is ready with ultrasonic checking out era. It is utilized in area of a USFD manual device. Through which best 2 to 8 km of tracks get checked in keeping with day. The stretches that don’t get examined with a SPURT automobile get examined with the aid of a USFD manual device.
Rail Accidents After Leveraging Numerous Technology
An Overview of Odisha Rail Tragedy 2023
It’s actual that in spite of leveraging numerous artificial machines and gadgets for railway safety, Indian Railways continue to face rail injuries. Recently, the Odisha train tragedy has shaken the whole nation. On June ninth at 6:fifty five PM, at Bahanaga Bazar station, three trains – the Coromandel Express traveling at 128 km/h, a items train loaded with iron ore, and the Howrah Express journeying at 126 km/h – collided with every other. The crash resulted inside the lack of 275 lives and left one thousand injured.
The cause of the Odisha train tragedy isn't but clear. However, for a few cause, the Coromandel Express, 12842 left its designated line and entered the loop music. Unfortunately, the goods train become already occupying the loop line, main to a collision among these two trains. After the collision, the Coromandel Express derailed, throwing its bogies onto the adjoining down tracks. The Howrah Superfast Express, 12308, become crossing through the down song concurrently, colliding with the 2 bogies of Coromandel Express.
The train accident is considered one of the deadliest in India—one that even Kavach couldn’t have prevented. However, none of the trains involved were equipped with the Kavach system. Experts say the train didn’t have enough time to stop after entering the loop track. In such situations, train tracking technology could play a crucial role by providing real-time location updates and enabling quicker responses. Thankfully, LHB coaches did their part and saved multiple lives by detaching themselves from the affected coaches.
Initiative of Indian Railways to Stop Train Accident
Indian railways have taken multiple steps to prevent rail injuries. The status of rail accidents in India is quite proper. From the to be had statistics for 2019, the rail twist of fate charge per billion train kilometres in India turned into zero.Five, Germany 0.45, and in France 0.25. The situation of train protection has elevated in the united states of america in latest years. And the purpose at the back of that is the initiative of Indian Governments and Railways to ensure protection.
Indian Railways has 9000 unmanned crossings on broad gauge. Indian Governments have removed the ones crossings or appointed body of workers to take care of the people.
Indian Railways is operating on whole electrification.
It equips itself with superior technology like electronic interlocking systems, kavach, and ATP.
Although, things are not absolutely ideal. Indian Railways desires to use its generation nicely and provide greater safety to railway passengers. The Indian railways are the lifeline of the united states of america. People now not most effective use this shipping mode to head on trips however additionally tour by way of it to get remedies, go to hospitals, observe in metro towns and more.
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