The Railway Board has called for a CBI probe into the tragic train accident in Balasore, even as Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said the “root cause” of the accident has been identified as issues with the point machine and the electronic interlocking system. Later on Sunday night, the first train on the section where the accident happened in Balasore started its journey, 51 hours after the horrific crash which killed 275 people, officials said.
Earlier in the day Vaishnaw said, “We have recommended a CBI probe into the triple train accident that claimed 275 lives and left over 1,000 injured,” stated the Railway Minister, emphasising the severity of the incident. Both the Central and State Governments are extending their full support to the injured patients, who are currently receiving treatment in hospitals located in Balasore, Cuttack, and Bhubaneswar. Vaishnaw assured reporters that the patients are being provided with all necessary facilities and round-the-clock medical attention from dedicated teams of doctors. On Sunday, the Odisha Government revised the death toll from the triple train accident to 275 from the previously reported 288, with the number of injuries now standing at 1,175. Later on Sunday, Minister Vaishnaw shared further details regarding the identified root cause of the accident. He mentioned that a change made to the electronic interlocking system was responsible for the incident. However, he denied any connection between the accident and the anti-collision system known as “Kavach.” “The inquiry into the accident has been completed, and once the commissioner of railway safety (CRS) provides his report, all the details will be known.
The root cause of the horrifying incident has been identified... I do not want to go into details. Let the report come out,” explained the Railway Minister.
Meanwhile, officials investigating the case have stated that the Coromandel Express was not exceeding the speed limit and had received a green signal to enter a loop line, where a goods train was stationary. This finding virtually clears the driver of the Coromandel Express of any responsibility for the accident, which claimed the lives of 288 people in Balasore district.
Two key officials from the Railway Board, Sandeep Mathur (Principal Executive Director of Signalling) and Jaya Varma Sinha (Member of Operation and Business Development), shed light on how the accident might have occurred. They explained the functioning of the interlocking system, which appeared to have played a role in the incident that resulted in the tragic loss of at least 288 lives.
Sinha clarified that the direction, route, and signal were all set for the Coromandel Express. “Green signal means that in every way, the driver knows that his path ahead is clear, and he can proceed with his permitted maximum speed. The permitted speed in this section was 130 kmph, and he was running his train at 128 kmph, which we have confirmed from loco logs,” she stated.
As investigations continue, the railway authorities await the report from the commissioner of railway safety to obtain further insights into the accident. The CBI’s involvement is expected to ensure a thorough and impartial investigation into the tragic Balasore train accident.
A devastating collision involving the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express, and a goods train occurred on Friday evening near the Bahanaga Bazar station in Balasore, Odisha. The accident site is situated approximately 250 km south of Kolkata and 170 km north of Bhubaneswar.
According to officials, the latest reports indicate that 288 people lost their lives in the tragic incident. Around 1,175 individuals have been admitted to various hospitals, including private medical facilities, for treatment.
Initial findings suggest that the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express was running at a speed of 126 kmph. Jaya Varma Sinha, Member of Operation and Business Development, clarified that neither train involved in the collision was exceeding the speed limit. Instead, a signaling issue has emerged as a probable cause.
“The only train involved in the accident was the Coromandel Express. It collided with the goods train, resulting in the coaches of the Coromandel Express piling up on top of the goods train. The goods train was carrying iron ore, making it a heavy train. Consequently, the impact of the collision was primarily absorbed by the train,” explained Sinha.
A preliminary report indicates that the Coromandel Express had entered the loop line at the station, where a stationary goods train loaded with iron ore was parked.
Sandeep Mathur, Principal Executive Director of Signalling, provided insight into how the two key components—point machine and interlocking system—could be responsible for the accident. When a train needs to move to a loop line, the point machine must be operated.
“We need to ensure whether the track ahead is occupied or not. The signal is interlocked in such a manner that it indicates if the line ahead is occupied or not. It also reveals whether the train will move straight or towards the loop line. If the point shows straight and the track ahead is clear, the signal turns green. However, if the point directs the train towards the loop line and the track is clear, the signal turns yellow, indicating a different route,” explained Mathur.
The interlocking system is designed to guide trains safely out of a station and can be either electronic or non-electronic. Both officials emphasized that the system is “fail-safe” and “error-proof.”
“It is called a fail-safe system, meaning that even if it malfunctions, all signals will turn red, and train operations will cease. As the minister mentioned, there was an issue with the signaling system. It could be a physical error, such as someone accidentally damaging the cables during excavation,” Sinha added.
Sinha also dismissed circulating rumors that the railway authorities prioritize the Vande Bharat trains over safety concerns. She clarified that the railways’ top priority is safety and they are capable of simultaneously addressing various aspects such as station development and Vande Bharat train projects.
Restoration work is currently underway, and at least two affected railway lines at the accident site are expected to be operational by 8 pm on Sunday.
Jaya Varma further announced that a helpline number, 139, has been set up for affected individuals. Senior railway officers are manning the helpline and making efforts to connect as many people as possible.
“Family members of the injured or deceased can call us, and we will ensure that they can meet their loved ones. We will take care of their journey and other related expenses,” assured Varma.
The railways also said that the 139 service will continue uninterrupted and will ensure prompt disbursal of ex-gratia announced by the minister -- Rs 10 lakh in case of death, Rs 2 lakh for grievous injuries and Rs 50,000 for minor injuries.
So far, the railways has disbursed Rs 3.22 crore as ex-gratia in 285 cases -- 11 deaths, 50 grievous injuries and 224 minor injuries. The Indian Railways is paying ex-gratia amounts at seven locations -- Soro, Kharagpur, Balasore, Khantapara, Bhadrak, Cuttack and Bhubaneswar.