The tragic train accident in Balasore,
Odisha, on June 2, 2023, resulted in the loss of 291 lives and injuries to over 900 individuals. An investigation by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) identified critical lapses within the Signal & Telecommunication (S&T) department as the primary cause of this disaster.
Signaling Failures and Human Errors
The CRS report revealed that improper modifications in the signaling system at the Bahanaga Bazaar station led to the catastrophe. Specifically, during maintenance work on the electric lifting barrier at level crossing gate 94, lapses occurred in the signaling-circuit alteration. These errors resulted in the Coromandel Express receiving a green signal for the main track, while the crossover was incorrectly set to the loop line, causing a collision with a stationary goods train.
Procedural Oversights
The investigation highlighted that the signaling modifications were executed without approved circuit diagrams, leading to incorrect wiring. Additionally, there was insufficient supervision by officers during these critical alterations, and the staff involved lacked proper competency certifications.
Missed Warnings
A similar incident had occurred on May 16, 2022, at the Bankranayabaz station in the Kharagpur Division, where a train took an unintended route due to wrong wiring and cable faults. The CRS report noted that if corrective measures had been implemented after this earlier event, the Balasore accident might have been prevented.
Recommendations for Improvement
In response to these findings, the CRS recommended several measures to enhance railway safety:
- Documentation: Launch a drive to update signaling wiring diagrams and related documents.
- Standard Practices: Ensure adherence to standard procedures for signaling modifications.
- Pre-Modification Testing: Conduct functional tests of existing circuits before making alterations.
- Supervised Alterations: Carry out any signaling circuit changes with approved diagrams and under officer supervision.
- Competency Certification: Provide rigorous practical training and certification for staff involved in signaling work.
- Fault Detection: Equip stationmasters with the knowledge to detect potential faults in the electronic interlocking system through panel indications.
Implementing these recommendations is crucial to prevent such tragedies in the future and to ensure the safety of railway operations across the country.
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