Bihar train accident: Six similar accidents that could have been prevented

The accident in Bihar where over 30 pilgrims were killed after trying to flag down the speeding Rajyarani Express is one among many accidents involving the railways that could have been averted easily. Unmanned railway crossings, signalling failure as well as human callousness have been the major biggest factors that have contributed to such tragedies. Here are six accidents similar to the Rajyarani Express accident which have taken place in recent times 10 February 2013 - 36 people killed in stampede at Allahabad station: Thirty six people were killed and at least thirty nine people were seriously injured as a stampede broke out following a police attempted to disperse pilgrims who were there to attend the Kumbh Mela. The incident was triggered by a footbridge collapse that led to a mayhem in the already crowded station. [caption id=“attachment_1044043” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Bodies lying after the Allahabad stampede during the Kumbh Mela. AFP.[/caption] Several people were trampled under each other as they tried to avert the police, eyewitnesses had later reported. 31 March, 2012 - Five run over by speeding train in Howrah: Five persons, including two women, knocked down and killed by the speeding train when they were crossing the tracks at Santragachi railway station in Howrah district in West Bengal. All the five died on the spot, according to the South Eastern Railway. 20, March, 2012 - 15 dead after train rams into van at unmanned railway crossing in UP Fifteen people died and three were injured when the train rammed into an overcrowded Tata Magic van at an unmanned railway crossing near Mendu railway station in Hathras (Mahamaya Nagar) district in Uttar Pradesh. The driver had tried to cross the tracks even as he had seen that the train was coming at them at a high speed. 7 July, 2011 - 38 people killed after train rams into bus in UP In another accident involving an unmanned crossing, at least 38 people, including nine children, were killed and 29 others were critically injured when the train rammed a bus carrying a marriage party at an unmanned crossing in Patiyali area of Kanshiram Nagar district in the wee hours of the morning. The driver of the bus was reportedly drunk as he ignored the plea of passengers and by-standers who had warned the driver of an approaching train. 1 January, 2011 - One dead after train rams into truck in UP  One person was killed and two were injured as the speeding train rammed into the truck in Uttar Pradesh’s Jaunpur district. The driver had reportedly missed the red signal and had kept the train going at a high speed. 17 January, 2010 - Two killed and four injured after train hits vehicle in UP  Two persons were killed and four others seriously injured when a train hit their vehicle at an unmanned railway crossing in Barabanki district. The car was in the middle of the tracks when the accident took place, the police said.