Odisha Train Accident: Anti-Collision 'Kavach' Was On Trial Last Year, Says Indian Railways Spokesperson

A total of 58 trains have been cancelled, 81 were diverted and 10 were terminated in the wake of the Odisha train accident.

Passengers wait at a railway station after several trains were cancelled following an accident involving three trains in Odisha's Balasore district.

Source : PTI

New Delhi: Indian Railways spokesperson said the Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) or Kavach was on trial last year in the wake of the devastating train accident in Odisha that is suspected to have occurred due to the absence of 'Kavach' anti-collission system on the route. "The Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) or Kavach was on trial last year...in this technology when locomotives are on the same track then there is an automatic break," Amitabh Sharma, Spokesperson, Ministry of Railways, said on Saturday. In view of the Coromandel Express accident, a total of 58 trains have been cancelled, 81 were diverted and 10 were terminated, Sharma further said. According to report, the accident in Odisha killed 288 people and injured around 900.    

"Anti-collision device was an old technology used in Railways. It used to work with automatic brakes in locomotive proximity. However, if the driver crossed the red signal, then there were no automatic brakes. The enhanced version of this technology, TCAS, was designed indigenously. Work is being done with regard to this, and it has been rolled out nationwide. It has also been sanctioned in various railway lines, and we are expecting to have it installed by 2024," he added.

“So far, a total of 58 trains stand cancelled, 81 were diverted and 10 were terminated. Work is underway in full swing, and restoration will be done soon; first, we will complete the restoration of the downline,” news agency ANI quoted Sharma as saying.

#WATCH | So far, a total of 58 trains stand cancelled, 81 were diverted & 10 were terminated. Work is underway in full swing, & restoration will be done soon; first, we will complete the restoration of the downline: Amitabh Sharma, Spokesperson, Ministry of Railways on Balasore… pic.twitter.com/BOUXkSAhw2

— ANI (@ANI) June 3, 2023

Meanwhile, after the accident, railways initiated a high-level probe into the incident which will be headed by the Commissioner of Railway Safety, South Eastern Circle. 

The train crash, considered to be the fourth deadliest in India happened near the Bahanaga Baazar station in Balasore district, about 250 km south of Kolkata and 170 km north of Bhubaneswar, around 7 pm on Friday.

The 12841 Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express derailed at Bahanaga Bazar between the Balasore and Soro stations at around 7 pm, according to South Eastern Railway officials, reported PTI. Soon after, the 12864 Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express derailed at the same site.

The Coromandel Express derailed first and 10-12 of its coaches fell on the line on which the Bengaluru-Howrah Express was travelling, forcing it to jump off the tracks.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday visited Odisha's Balasore where the triple train accident occurred and took stock of the situation. He also visited a hospital and met with the injured victims. The PM said those found guilty in the matter will be punished stringently. 

"It's a painful incident. Govt will leave no stone unturned for the treatment of those injured. It's a serious incident, instructions issued for probe from every angle. Those found guilty will be punished stringently. Railway is working towards track restoration. I met the injured victims," he said.