What is Odisha’s Triple Train Tragedy?
On June 2, 2023, a terrible accident happened at Bahanaga Railway Station in Odisha. Three trains crashed into each other, causing many deaths and injuries. The trains involved in the accident were a goods train, the Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express, and the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express.
The goods train was parked on a track when the Coromandel Express, going to Chennai, derailed and crashed into it. A few seconds later, the Superfast Express, coming from the opposite direction, also hit the other two trains.
288 people have lost their lives, and more than 900 are seriously injured in this tragic accident.
What caused the accident?
As of now, the real cause of the accident is not very clear. According to the Railway Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, the main reason for the accident was that unnecessary changes were made to the Electronic Interlocking System (EIS). Mr Vaishnaw said that neither was the train driver at fault nor was anything wrong with the train.
The EIS is a machine that uses computers and sensors to keep an eye on trains and control their movements. It's controlled by the station master. The EIS is there to make sure trains don't crash and can switch tracks smoothly during their journey. It works by giving trains a signal to go only when it is safe.
The Commissioner for Railway Safety from South Eastern Railways will soon share a detailed report about what exactly happened. The Railway Board thinks the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) should investigate the case further.
Who manages the railways in India?
In India, the railways are managed by an organisation called Indian Railways. It is part of the Government of India and takes care of all the trains in the country. Indian Railways has more than 12 lakh employees, which makes it the second largest employer in India.
Indian Railways has divided the country into 19 zones. Each zone is headed by a General Manager, who makes sure everything runs smoothly. Indian Railways has many factories that make train-related stuff, such as engines, tracks, and coaches. These factories have their own General Managers too. They all report to the Railway Board in New Delhi, which oversees everything related to trains.
