Faulty signalling system, absence of 'Kavach': What caused Kanchanjunga Express train accident?

The train accident in West Bengal’s Siliguri involving a Kanchanjunga Express and a goods train was caused by an error in the signalling system that was defective since 5:50 am on Monday.

The CEO and Chairman of Railway Boards Jaya Varma Sinha said that the accident was caused by human error as first indications suggest that the case was a result of signal disregard.

The train accident killed nine people, including the loco pilot of the Kanchanjunga train, and left several others injured.

The Kanchanjunga Express was en route to the Sealdah Station when a goods train rammed into it from the rear when the former was stationary. The impact of the collision derailed two rear compartments of the train, as per the divisional railway manager of North Frontier Railway’s Katihar division.

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Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw visited the accident spot to take stock of the situation.

“Right now our focus is on restoration. This is the main line. The rescue operation has been completed. This is not the time for politics. I will also meet the injured,” he said.

#WATCH | West Bengal: Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw visits the Kanchenjunga Express train accident site in Darjeeling district

He says, "Right now our focus is on restoration. This is the main line. The rescue operation has been completed. This is not the time for politics.… pic.twitter.com/we5bx2WDgS

— ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2024

What happened?

The automatic signalling system between the Ranipatra Railway Station and Chattar Hat Junction, where the container train collided with the Kanchanjunga train in the rear, was not functioning even before the accident occurred.

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A source told PTI, “Train No 13174 (Sealdah Kanchanjunga Express) departed Rangapani station at 8:27 am and stopped between Ranipatra railway station and Chattar Hat due to automatic signalling failure from 5:50 am.”

In cases of automatic signalling failure, the station master issues a written authority called  TA 912 that authorises locomotive pilots to cross all red signals in the section due to the defect. The station master at Ranipatra followed protocol and issued the TA 912 to the driver of the Kanchanjunga Express.

“Around the same time, a goods train, GFCJ, departed Rangapani at 8:42 am and hit 13174 in the rear portion resulting from the derailment of the guard’s coach, two parcel coaches and a general seating coach,” the source added.

Now, only an investigation can reveal whether TA 912 was also issued to the goods trail or not. In case the locomotive pilot of the goods train was indeed issued the authority, he or she was supposed to stop the train for one minute at each defective signal and travel at 10 kmph speed.

Therefore, Sanjay Pandhi, the working president of the Indian Railway Loco Runningmen Organisation (IRLRO) said that it is wrong to blame the locomotive pilot for signal disregard without a proper probe.

‘Kavach’ system absent on train tracks

India’s indigenous protection system that is supposed to prevent collisions of trains on the same track, ‘Kavach, was reportedly not functioning on the tracks where the accident occurred.

“It is too early to talk about the cause of it but in modern times it required an inquiry and deep corrections. I am guessing that possibly this engine did not have ‘Kavach’ (an automatic train protection (ATP) system). I do not doubt that the government will take corrective action,” former Railways Minister Dinesh Trivedi said.

Developed by the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RSCO), Kavach enables high-speed trains to run at a full tilt that minimises the possibility of colliding or derailing.