Wreckage of a train near the accident site a day after a collision between the Kanchanjunga Express and a freight train, near Rangapani railway station, on June 18, 2024. | Photo Credit: PTI
Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety (CCRS) Janak Kumar Garg on Tuesday began an investigation into the circumstances that led to the tragic rear-end collision of a freight train with Train No 13174 Agartala-Sealdah Kanchanjunga Express in Darjeeling district, West Bengal in which 10 passengers were killed. and 43 others were injured.
According to a senior official of the Northeast Frontier Railway, Mr. Garg visited the accident site between Rangapani and Chattar Hat railway stations in Katihar Division. He examined several eyewitnesses and spoke to senior railway officials. CCRS will meet officials and members of the public with knowledge of the accident to record their statements.
(The Commissioner of Railway Safety works in the Ministry of Civil Aviation and investigates the safety of rail travel and train operations. The Commissioner is entrusted with certain statutory functions as prescribed in the Railways Act, 1989.)
While traffic on the single line was restored on Monday evening, the first train was operated on the second line on Tuesday. Normal traffic has been restored on both lanes. Relief and rescue operations have been completed. Among those injured in the accident, nine passengers sustained serious injuries and steps were being taken to ensure proper treatment, the official said.
To address passenger complaints and emergencies, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has ordered the setting up of ‘War Rooms’ at all Zonal and Divisional Headquarters in the railway network in the country.
According to railway sources, a ‘War Room’ headed by a senior officer was set up in the control room with commercial department staff for round-the-clock functioning. In addition to passenger complaints marked on the ‘Rail Madad’ application, social media platforms and other media, the ‘War Room’ will also coordinate with the relevant departments/agencies if there is a need. The functioning of the new facility will be under the direct supervision of the General Manager/Divisional Railway Manager, the sources said.
Loco Pilots looking for training
Meanwhile, the All India Loco Running Staff Association said a representation was given to the General Manager of the Northeast Frontier Railway last year seeking adequate exposure and training for loco pilots on auto-signalling routes.
In the petition, AILRSA Branch Secretary SS Thakur said that loco pilots are being forced to work under automatic signaling system without any training certificate or competency which may lead to casualties. “Therefore, we request that without proper training and certificate of competency, no staff running on loco can work on the above system (automatic signalling),” he said.
The rules related to the operation of the train during the failure of the automatic signal section were amended by the Northeast Frontier Railway in November 2023. The section dealing with the duties of the loco pilot / motorman during the red automatic stop signal has been revised. With the norms that came into effect on November 10, 2023, “When encountering an automatic signal in the ‘ON’ (red) aspect and after waiting for the prescribed time, the loco pilot must proceed with caution at a speed not exceeding 15. kmph where visibility is good and do not exceed 10 kmph where visibility is not good until the next stop signal, look for any obstacle and be ready to stop quickly.
Asked whether loco pilots have been exposed to this revised rule and whether they have been given adequate training and competency certificates, a senior official in the zone said the answer to the question could not be given immediately as officials are busy with active CCRS supervision. However, he said loco pilots would “be sure to be adequately trained and certificate of competency issued before undertaking duties in the auto-signalling area.”
