Safety Concerns Rise as Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Train Derails in UP
Safety Concerns Rise as Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Train Derails in UP
New Delhi : On Thursday afternoon, a tragic accident occurred as eight bogies of the Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express derailed in Gonda district, Uttar Pradesh, resulting in the death of at least two people and injuring 35 others. The derailment, which took place at approximately 2:35 PM, has prompted a high-level inquiry by the Railways to determine the cause of the accident.
In the wake of the incident, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his condolences and ordered immediate deployment of rescue and relief personnel. Emergency helpline numbers were issued to assist affected families, and the government announced ex gratia payments of Rs 10 lakh to the families of the deceased, Rs 2.5 lakh for those with grievous injuries, and Rs 50,000 for those with minor injuries.
The derailment has left many questions unanswered, with officials stating that the exact cause is yet to be determined. UP Relief Commissioner G S Naveen confirmed that the rescue operation concluded in the evening, with no individuals trapped in the coaches, though clearing the tracks remained a priority. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma reported no casualties from his state and assured ongoing support and monitoring of the situation.
Safety Concerns Rise as Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Train Derails in UP
A Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) bulletin mentioned that a special train had been arranged to transport stranded passengers to Dibrugarh, with helpline numbers set up for further information. The bulletin also stated that passengers were being bused to Mankapur station near Gonda for onward travel.
In response to the accident, three trains under the NFR—15707 Katihar-Amritsar Amrapali Express, 15603 Guwahati-Jammu Tawi Amarnath Express, and 15910 Lalgarh-Dibrugarh Avadh Assam Express—are being rerouted. The Railways has also ordered a Commission of Railway Safety inquiry to verify claims of a minor explosion before the derailment.
This incident has reignited concerns about the safety of Indian Railways, which has experienced several deadly accidents over the years. Trinamool Congress leaders Sushmita Dev and Mahua Moitra criticized Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, highlighting the deteriorating safety standards. Dev pointed out that Indian Railways, a primary mode of travel for millions, is no longer safe. Moitra emphasized the need for urgent safety measures, advocating for the immediate installation of the automated train collision avoidance system (KAVACH) across all railway routes.
India has a troubling history of train accidents. Since 1995, the country has witnessed seven major train accidents, five of which resulted in more than 200 fatalities. The Firozabad collision of 1995 recorded the highest number of deaths at 358, while the Balasore multiple train collision in Odisha claimed 287 lives about a year ago. These seven accidents alone have taken over 1,600 lives.
Despite these tragic events, it appears that Indian Railways has not effectively learned from past incidents to prevent future tragedies. This lack of progress starkly contrasts with other countries, where railway safety is a top priority and incidents of this nature are far less frequent. The recent derailment is a grim reminder that without significant improvements and proactive measures, the safety of millions of passengers remains at risk.
Post Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.