On Monday, in India, at least eight people lost their lives when a goods train driver failed to observe a signal and collided with an express passenger train from behind, according to police and railway officials.
As a result of the collision, three passenger carriages were derailed and overturned, while one carriage was propelled high into the air, precariously perched on another.
This incident, which occurred in West Bengal state, is the latest in a series of accidents to afflict India’s aging rail network, which serves millions of passengers daily. It also marks another instance of reported failures involving drivers overlooking basic signals.
Approximately 50 individuals sustained injuries and were transported to hospitals, as stated by Jaya Varma Sinha, chairman of India’s Railway Board.
“A goods train disregarded the signal and hit the train from behind,” Sinha said.
The dead included the driver and his co-driver, who missed the signal, as well as a train guard and five passengers, she added.
Sinha said the casualties could have been worse, but a guard wagon and two others carrying post that were attached to the back of the passenger train took the brunt of the crash.
“There were two parcel carriages attached… which protected other carriages from extensive damage,” she said, but added that the guard wagon “was badly damaged”.
– ‘Tragic’ –
The collision occurred in the Phansidewa area of Darjeeling district when the Kanchenjunga Express train was struck by the goods train. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to those who lost their loved ones through a social media post.
West Bengal’s Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee described the crash as “tragic.” She immediately dispatched ambulances and disaster teams to the site and ordered swift action to be taken. Local police officer Iftikar-Ul-Hassan reported seeing several severely injured individuals being rescued from the wreckage.
He also noted that the toll could potentially rise, as four individuals are in critical condition. Darjeeling district police chief Praween Prakash stated that the rescue operation had been concluded, and efforts were underway to clear the debris from the site.
– World’s highest rail bridge –
India boasts one of the world’s largest rail networks, but it has unfortunately experienced several disasters over the years. Among the worst was in 1981, when a train derailed on a bridge in Bihar state, resulting in an estimated 800 fatalities.
In June of the previous year, a collision involving three trains claimed nearly 300 lives in Odisha state. This tragic incident occurred when a passenger train was mistakenly diverted onto a loop line and collided with a stationary goods train carrying iron ore.
Subsequently, three railway employees were charged with culpable homicide and destruction of evidence.
In October, at least 14 individuals lost their lives in Andhra Pradesh state when two passenger trains collided after one overshot a signal.
The railways ministry attributed the accident to driver distraction, as they were reportedly watching cricket on their phones during a one-day World Cup match between India and England.
Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw subsequently announced measures to install systems capable of detecting distractions to ensure that drivers remain fully focused while operating trains.
India has been investing substantial resources in upgrading its rail network, including modernizing stations and implementing electronic signaling systems. On a recent milestone, Minister Vaishnaw announced that a train successfully crossed the world’s highest railway bridge, which stands at 359 meters (1,178 feet) above the Chenab River in India’s Himalayan region.
This arch-shaped steel structure links sections of northern Jammu and Kashmir state, bridging the disputed territory with the rest of India. The railway track project has been underway for nearly three decades, with a trial run completed ahead of the formal opening, expected within weeks.
