On June 2nd, a devastating train accident occurred in Balasore district of Odisha, resulting in the tragic loss of at least 233 lives and leaving more than 900 people injured. The catastrophe unfolded around 7 pm when two coaches of the Yashwantpur-Howrah Express derailed near Bahanaga Railway station. These derailed coaches then collided with the oncoming Coromandal Express, causing further destruction. India has a history of rail safety issues, with derailments being the primary cause of accidents.
Past history of train accidents in India.
Between 2018 and 2021, seven out of ten railway accidents were due to derailments, according to a Comptroller and Auditor General report. Factors contributing to these derailments include faults in tracks, maintenance issues, operating errors, and human errors such as driver or signalman mistakes. To prevent similar incidents from happening again, several measures can be taken. First, understanding the hazard/risk occurrence life cycle is crucial. Second, ensuring risk controls address root causes, if possible, can help mitigate future accidents. Third, stress testing risk controls with emergency drills can prepare personnel for potential emergencies. Fourth, regularly reviewing and inspecting risk controls can ensure their effectiveness. Additionally, the Indian Railways needs to allocate more funds towards safety and infrastructure upgrades, including replacing outdated carriages, building new tracks, and renewing old ones.
https://twitter.com/hashtag/Balasore?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
https://twitter.com/hashtag/BalasoreTrainAccident?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Future course of action.
Experts also suggest reducing the utilization of capacity to 60-70% to ensure a more optimal and safer system. Furthermore, adequate time should be provided for routine maintenance of tracks, and efforts should be made to address rail fractures caused by extreme weather conditions. By implementing these measures and prioritizing safety, it is hoped that future train accidents can be prevented, saving countless lives and reducing the economic impact of such tragedies.
