Odisha train accident: ‘Mistaken’ signal likely to be reason behind mishap, reveals probe
2 min read 03 Jun 2023, 04:15 PM ISTOdisha train accident: A preliminary probe by the senior railway officials have revealed that a ‘mistaken’ signal is likely to be the reason for the train mishap
PremiumOdisha train accident: A ‘mistaken’ signal is likely to be the reason, the Coromandel Express diverted to the line where the goods train was parked and the subsequent crash killed around 290 people on Friday. The details were revealed after a preliminary probe by senior railway officials. The report of the Odisha train accident also added that the line on which the two trains collided was “partially corroded".
The report said that the Coromandel Express entered a loop line near the Bahanaga Bazar railway station in Balasore around 7:00 PM on Friday, after a mistaken signal, which was immediately withdrawn.
“After careful observation, (we) came to the conclusion that the signal was given and taken off for the main line for 12841 (Coromandel Express), but this train entered the loop line and dashed with the goods train which was on the loop line and derailed," the preliminary report said.
The details were revealed by a probe conducted by four senior railway officials JN Subudhi, RK Banerjee, RK Panjira, and AK Mohantu. The officials visited the site of the accident on Friday night and inspected the details around the crash.
Loop lines are railway tracks built around stations and divert the train from the main line. The trains are usually parked on the loop line for different reasons and are also used in overtaking maneuvers. The loop line is usually 750 meters long and rejoins the main line.
Notably, these are just preliminary findings and the full report of the Odisha train accident will be revealed after an inquiry by the commissioner of railway safety.
The railway lines where the Odisha train accident occurred were not covered with the indigenous Automatic Train Protection (ATP) System called Kavach. The system is developed by Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) and has the ability to automatically stop a train if another train is detected to be on the same line.