Daily News Analysis

Accidents in Indian Railways

stylish_lining

Accidents in Indian Railways

 

 

Why in the News?

23 coaches of the Assam-bound North East Superfast Express derailed in Buxar district of Bihar recently, which has been caused due to cracks in the railway track as per primary investigation.

Accidents in Indian Railways:

  1. Indian Railways (IR) has classified accidents, as an occurrence in the course of working of Railway, which does or may affect the safety of the Railway or passengers or safety of others or which does or may cause delay to train or loss to the Railway.
  2. The accidents are classified under five heads:
    1. Train Accidents
    2. Yard Accidents
    3. Indicative Accidents
    4. Equipment Failures
    5. Unusual Incidents.

 

 

  1. 217 consequential accidents have occurred between 2017-21, out of which the maximum accidents (163 derailments) were due to derailments (~75% of the total consequential accidents).
  2. In the category ‘Other Train Accidents’, total 1800 accidents took place in which derailments accounted for 68%.

Derailments on Indian Railways:

  1. Derailments are off-loading of wheel or wheels causing detention or damage to rolling stock/permanent way.
  2. Causes of derailment can be due to sudden or gradual due to failure of one or more of factors related to
    1. Track
    2. Train operations
    3. Mechanical/ Rolling Stock
    4. Signal and Telecommunication.
  3. The maximum derailments (395) were in ‘Engineering Department’ followed by ‘Operating Department’ (173).
  4. The major factors responsible for derailment:
    1. Maintenance of track (highest)
    2. Deviation of track parameters beyond permissible limits
    3. bad driving/over speeding.

Recommendations:

  1. Strict adherence to the scheduled timelines for conducting and finalization of accident inquiries.
  2. Developing a foolproof system of learning from past mistakes from the accident inquiry reports.
  3. A robust safety management system has to be created to ensure a system of checks and balances and minimize the chances of accident due to ‘failure of’ or ‘weakness in’ one or more of the remaining barriers.
  4. Monitoring the preventive action has to be mandatorily made part of SIMS, the online real time reporting system
  5. The quantity and quality of maintenance should not be compromised and adequate staffing in safety category has to be ensured.
  6. The Track Management System (TMS), a web-based application for online monitoring of track maintenance activities has to be made operational.
  7. Physical as well as financial targets in respect of track renewals need to be enhanced as per the annual requirement for track renewals for safety.

Union Cabinet Approves National Sports Policy (NSP) 2025

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the National Sports Policy (NSP) 2025, aiming to address long-standing challenges and transform India into a global sportin
Share It

CIMMYT’s Financial Crisis

The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), a pivotal institution in the development of agricultural research for maize, wheat, and related crops, is facing significant financia
Share It

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)

India's refusal to sign the joint declaration at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers' meeting in Qingdao, China has been a significant diplomatic development.
Share It

China-Pakistan-Bangladesh Trilateral Meeting

China, Pakistan, and Bangladesh held their first-ever trilateral meeting during the 6th China-South Asia Cooperation Forum.China took the lead in facilitating the dialogue, aiming to boost regiona
Share It

US Imposing Tariffs on India

The US's decision to raise tariffs on India, particularly targeting the continued purchase of Russian oil, has had significant implications for the bilateral trade relationship between the two
Share It

Offshore Wind Energy

As India expands its wind energy capacity, reaching an estimated 51.3 GW by mid-2025, concerns are growing over the environmental impact, particularly on bird populations and marine biodiversity.
Share It

AI-Powered Public Service Delivery in India

India is increasingly embracing Artificial Intelligence (AI) to transform public service delivery, ensuring that services are not only more efficient but also more inclusive and accessible. From e
Share It

Transforming Northeast India

The Act East Policy has played a pivotal role in transforming Northeast India into a key gateway for Southeast Asia, improving the region's infrastructure, economic ties, and regional integration.
Share It

Child Adoption in India

India’s child adoption system faces a number of challenges, but there are ongoing efforts to improve the process. Adoption Statistics Total Adoptions (2024–25): 4,515 children
Share It

permanent settlement for displaced tribals

The discussions surrounding permanent settlement for displaced tribals in India bring into sharp focus the urgent need for a comprehensive and structured approach to address the multi-dimensional issu
Share It

Newsletter Subscription


ACQ IAS
ACQ IAS