ABOUT 275 people were killed and around 1000 were injred in Odisha train tragedy, one of the worst in decades. According to Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, a change in electronic interlocking may have caused the horrific accident. He said that “whoever did it and how it happened will come out during the detailed investigation.” The interlocking error means that due to an ‘incorrect signal’, the train that was supposed to go via the main ‘up line’, changed tracks at a speed of more than 125 kmph and collided with a goods train that was parked there. How did this happen? That is a matter of investigation. Some reports have pointed out that it could have also happened due to an ‘electronic interlocking’ error. And some reports also suggest that the railway ministry had been warned about the error weeks ago.
This is a serious issue and the government needs to get to the bottom of this. Whether it is a human or electronic error, the accountability should be fixed and heads should roll. The train collision has left a trail of devastation. As the dust settles, it is imperative to focus on what lies ahead. Several critical questions need answers: How will responsibility be assigned? Will this tragedy serve as a catalyst for the changes in railways which is the mode of transport for a large mass of people all over the country. Data says it all: India has the fourth largest railway network with over 22,593 operating trains with a daily passenger count of 24 million passengers and 203.88 million tonnes of freight. In 2022, passenger traffic stood at 3.54 billion as compared to 1.28 billion in 2021.
However, the recent performance audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India revealed that maintenance of tracks played a significant role in three-quarters of the consequential train accidents between 2017-18 and 2020-21. This highlights the importance of prioritizing track maintenance and addressing related issues to prevent derailments.
The tragic events in Odisha is a wane-up call and should not be forgotten or dismissed as another unfortunate incident. It should serve as a catalyst for change, spurring the government to take decisive action and improve track management. Lakhs of people travel by railways in India. And their safety deserves the highest priority. And first step towards this goal is to find out what happened in Odisha and to fix responsibility.
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