Goods train driver's rule violation cause Kanchanjungha Express crash? Here's what railway report shows

Following a fatal train accident, a preliminary "joint observation report" compiled by several railway officials has indicated potential causes, pending a detailed investigation by the Commissioner of Railway Safety. According to the report, the derailment of the Kanchanjungha Express may have been due to the goods train's loco pilot disregarding a stop signal and operating at excessive speed. Notably, the Chief Loco Inspector (CLI) dissented from this assessment.

Typically formed soon after an accident, a joint observation report combines initial insights from various railway departments, including engineering, signalling, mechanical, and traffic.

Engineers noted that their on-site assessment suggested the collision and subsequent derailment likely occurred because the goods train failed to adhere to rules at an automatic signal and was travelling too fast. They came to "conclusion that rear end dashing of 13174 DN (read Kanchanjungha Express) by DN GFCJ container (goods train) and ultimately derailment of coaches and container wagon may have occurred due to not following the rule to passing under Automatic Signal at danger position and also excessive speed of train no DN GFCJ container."


The report, which was submitted a day after the accident, also added that the loco pilot, assistant loco pilot and train manager of the goods train were responsible for the accident.

The CLI in his dissent note said that he "doesn't agree there was failure of all automatic/ semi-automatic signals between Ranipatra (RNI) and Chattar Hat Junction (CAT). He mentioned that the signals had not been working since 5.50am on the day of the accident. He wrote that in such a situation, the whole section (between RNI and CAT) should have been converted into an Absolute Block System - a system to allow only one train at a time between two stations."

Inputs from TOI