NEW DELHI: A probe into the deadly Kanchanjunga Express freight train crash in West Bengal in June has concluded that the accident was “avoidable” if railway officials had adhered to proper rules and guidelines. The final report by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) has pointed to lapses at multiple levels of train operations, particularly at Rangapani station and among key personnel at the Northeast Frontier Railway.
The June 17 accident, which resulted in 10 deaths and left 43 others injured, occurred when a goods train rear-ended the Kanchanjunga Express near Jalpaiguri. Initially, the blame was placed on the loco pilot and assistant loco pilot of the goods train for not following safety norms. However, the CRS probe found no fault on their part. Instead, it identified a series of failures by station staff, including issuing a faulty authority letter that led the loco pilot to believe the train could operate at full speed despite automatic signals being out of order.
Key factors contributing to the crash included the failure to issue a caution order and inadequate training and counselling of train-running staff. The CRS report criticized the Rangapani station staff for issuing incorrect paper authority to cross the section and failing to ensure the proper cautionary measures. It also revealed that walkie-talkies, critical safety equipment, were not provided to the goods train’s loco pilot and train manager (guard). Additionally, the station master did not obtain the necessary signature from the train manager on the paper authority.
The report concluded that the accident was a result of “lapses at multiple levels in managing train operations” during automatic signal failures and highlighted the poor interpretation of operational rules among loco pilots and station staff, exacerbating the situation. The report underscores that the crash could have been avoided had safety protocols been properly followed.
