Though there is a decline in Consequential Train Accidents from 135 in 2014-15 to 31 in 2024-25, yet accidents including derailments, collisions, etc., continue to occur due to multiple reasons.
- Consequential train accidents are the ones with serious repercussions, including injuries, loss of life, disruption of rail traffic and damage to railway property.
Key Reasons for Rail Accidents in India
- Derailments: Track defects and poor maintenance (Bikaner–Guwahati Express 2022).
- Signalling Errors: E.g., Kanchanjunga Express Train Accident (2024).
- Operational Mistakes: Incorrect manual signalling and switching errors (Odisha Coromandel Express Accident, 2023).
- Other: Level-crossing incidents, Weather factors, human errors including driver fatigue, fire accidents, etc.
Initiatives taken to Ensure Railway Safety
- Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh (RRSK): Introduced in 2017-18 for replacement/renewal/ upgradation of critical safety assets.
- Commission of Railway Safety: Under Ministry of Civil Aviation dealing with matters on safety of rail travel and train operation with inspectorial, investigatory and advisory functions.
- Electrical/Electronic Interlocking Systems: With centralized operation of points and signals to reduce accident due to human failure.
- KAVACH: Indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system developed by the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO).
- Others: GPS based Fog Safety Device (FSD); Ultrasonic Flaw Detection (USFD), etc.
While the railways has moved well in adopting different technologies for its safety, there is a need for harmonisation amongst them along with focusing on human skill development and training to avoid human errors.
