Report blames staff, faulty signals for train accident

Multiple operational lapses by railway staff and malfunctioning signals led to the deadly collision between Kanchanjunga Express and a goods train in June that killed 10 people, an investigation has found, calling for urgent steps to deploy train collision prevention systems.

- Neha LM Tripathi

The Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) report, following the conclusion of the probe on September 29, blamed station officials at Rangapani railway station, the chief loco inspector of New Jalpaiguri Junction station and traffic inspectors of zonal headquarters for the accident, which was estimated to have caused damages worth ₹2.8 crore to railway assets.

The crash occurred when a goods train rammed into the Agartala-Sealdah Kanchanjunga Express on June 17, killing 10 people including the goods train driver and injuring 43 others. The accident was one of 208 incidents of "Signal Passing at Danger" recorded between April 2019 and March 2024, where trains essentially crossed stop signal lights, which they need to do in case of signal malfunction. "The accident occurred due to lapses at multiple levels in managing train operations under Automatic Signal failures," the report stated, pointing to a series of critical errors including wrong documentation, missing safety equipment, and inadequate staff training.