Lessons From Fatal Odisha Train Crash

Bini Dahal

In the present-day world, transportation is something we cannot live without. There are different forms of transportation such as buses, trains and planes. Despite being essential for commuting purposes, these modes of transportation are not completely free from risks. We have heard of a number of accidents and people losing their lives in those disasters. This is a really painful story to tell. And just a week ago, our neighbouring India saw one of its most devastating train accidents in history.

The fatal accident took place in the eastern Indian state of Odisha on June 2. According to media reports, in the district of Balashore, three trains – two passenger trains and one freight train -- collided with one another, causing a massive disaster. One of the passenger trains travelling between Shalimar in West Bengal and Chennai in Tamil Nadu hit a stationary freight train which was carrying iron ore in it. This caused the passenger train to derail and hit another passenger train that was heading to Kolkota from Bengaluru. The train mishap is considered to be the deadliest train derailment that has shook the country after two decades.

As per media reports, more than 280 people have lost their lives while well over 1,000 others were injured in the accident. As of now, as many as 60 of the dead bodies still remain unidentified and the Indian government is trying its best to help families identify their lost members. To find the truth behind the crash, the government has begun its investigations. They are working to identify who is responsible for that horrible situation. 

According to the Railway Minister, a change in electronic interlocking had led to the derailment. Electronic interlocking basically refers to a system that ensures that trains are not running in the same railway line at the same time. Talking about India’s railway system, it is regarded as the fourth largest in the globe. The country, which is now the most populous in the world, has transportation infrastructures like trains which are utilised by a huge number of people on a daily basis. Therefore, any kind of error or issue can bring problems at a greater scale.

Besides being an easy medium of travel for people, trains are also found facilitating trade in the country. However, train derailment remains a very common issue. Reports have shown that between 2017 and 2021, roughly 100,000 people lost their lives to train derailment. An inadequate maintenance of train tracks is blamed for such a rise in the number of accidents. 

Regardless of any mode of transportation, they are machineries and are operated by human beings. So failure of a machinery to function properly or human error can cause huge casualties. Therefore, it is imperative for governments, transportation authorities and private sector to prioritise safety, invest in infrastructure and implement effective maintenance and monitoring guidelines. 

Lessons must be learnt from this train derailment and urgent actions are needed to be taken to ensure safety. It is important to plan, incorporate and implement necessary improvements in the whole system. Doing so can reduce instances of train accidents. Likewise, identifying those responsible and holding them accountable too is crucial. By taking these key measures, we can strive towards a safer and more secure transportation system which will be beneficial for one and all.