Train accidents: Reasons behind mishaps; List of major collisions in 2016

New Delhi: Merely after a month, we again witnessed another train accident in which 14 coaches of Saeldah-Ajmer express derail near Kanpur. According to Kanpur IG, 2 persons killed, 43 injured derailment. Financial assistance under rules being made available to victims of Sealdah-Ajmer Express train derailment, said Anil Saxena, Indian Railways' spokesperson. "Personally monitoring the situation in wake of unfortunate derailment of Sealdah-Ajmer Express near Kanpur," tweeted Suresh Prabhu, Minister of Railways. On November 20th, 14 coaches of the Indore-Rajendra Nagar Express 19321 derailed at Pukhrayan, nearly 60 kilometers from Kanpur. At least 150 deaths and 260 injuries have been reported in Pukhrayan train mishap. This brings us to a boiling question that what is the reason for so many accidents in a system which is world's largest railway networks comprising 115,000 km. Reasons behind train accidents: According to the Indian Railways, the foremost reason of train accidents is due to human failure and amounts to 87 percent of accidents that occur on Indian Railways every year. Reportedly, out of the 87 percent accidents, 44 percent are caused due to the failure of the railway staff. 43 percent accidents take place due to the failure of people other than members of the railway staff. As per reports, two per cent accidents are due to the failure of equipment. Sabotage also plays two percent role and six percent accidents are due to incidental factors. However, the causes for three percent accidents could not be established or the cases are still under investigation. MUST READ: Country of broken railway tracks: How will bullet train run? List of major train accidents in 2016:

• On 5th February, 4 coaches of Kanyakumari-Bangalore City Express derailed near Vellore. Few injured.
• On 1st May, Old Delhi-Faizabad Express derailed near Hapur. However, No casualties were reported.
• On 6th May, side collision of the Chennai Central - Thiruvananthapuram Central super-fast and a suburban train near Pattabiram took place. Seven, reportedly, got injured.
• On 19th May, Kanyakumari-Dibrugrah Vivek Express derailed near Nagercoil. No casualties were reported.
• On 28th August, 12 coaches of train number 16347 Thiruvananthapuram Central-Mangalore Central Express derailed near Karukutty Station, Angamali around 2:20 am. No casualties.
• On 20th November, 14 coaches of the Indore-Rajendra Nagar Express 19321 derailed at Pukhrayan, approx 60 kilometers from Kanpur. At least 150 people died and 260 injuries have been reported in Pukhrayan train accident. Image courtesy: Wikipedia