Odisha Triple-Train Accident Due To Lapses In Signalling-Circuit-Alteration: Railway Minister Vaishnaw

New Delhi: Union Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Friday that lapses in the ‘signalling- circuit-alteration’ leading to wrong signals caused the horrific triple train accident in Odisha’s Balasore district last month.

The minister was replying to questions by CPI(M)’s John Brittas and AAP’s Sanjay Singh in Rajya Sabha on the accident near Bahanaga Bazar station, which claimed the lives of 295 people.

The Opposition leaders had asked the government to clarify whether the commissioner of railway safety (CRS) had submitted its report regarding the crash and if they had set any timelines for the CBI investigation.

“The rear collision was due to the lapses in signalling-circuit-alteration carried out at the North Signal Goomty (of the station) in the past, and during the execution of the signalling work related to replacement of Electric Lifting Barrier for level crossing gate no. 94 at the Station. These lapses resulted in wrong signalling to the Train No. 12841 wherein the UP Home Signal indicated a Green aspect for run-through movement on the UP main line of the station,” Vaishnaw said in his written reply.

“But the crossover connecting the UP main line to the UP loop line (crossover 17 A/B) was set to the UP loop line; the wrong signalling resulted in the Train No. 12841 traversing on the UP loop line, and eventual rear-collision with the Goods train (No. N/DDIP) standing there,” Vaishnaw added.

In reply to a specific query by AAP’s Singh on whether the principal chief operating manager of South-Western Railway zone was warned three months in advance through a letter about defects in the electronic interlocking system, Vaishnaw said that on February 8, 2023, the signalling maintainer or ESM and his assistant and had not followed proper procedure leading to an unusual condition which was soon identified by a loco-pilot, thus avoiding an untoward incident.

On the number of casualties deaths in one of the deadliest train accidents in India, Vaishnaw said: “In the unfortunate train accident at Bahanaga Bazar Station (near Balasore) on 02.06.2023, 295 passengers lost their lives, 176 sustained grievous injuries, 451 suffered simple injuries and 180 received first aid treatment and left. In the said train accident, 254 deceased persons have been identified and their bodies handed over; 41 deceased persons are yet to be identified.”

On details of compensation paid to victims’ kin and those injured, Vaishnaw informed that till July 16, Rs 29.49 crore has been paid as enhanced ex-gratia, Rs 10 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased, Rs 2 lakh each to the grievously injured and Rs 50,000 each to the passengers with simple injuries.

“As on 13.07.2023, 258 claim cases have been received in various benches of the Railway Claims Tribunal, out of which, 51 claims cases have been disposed of,” the Railway minister said.

The minister told the House that there has been a steep decline in number of consequential train accidents — from 473 in 2000-01 to 48 in 2022-23. Also, cases of consequential train derailments came down from 350 in 2000-01 to 36 in 2022-23.