Tragedy struck on Friday when two passenger trains collided in Odisha, killing at least 207 people and injuring 900 more. The crash is one of India’s worst rail disasters in recent years. Rescue operations are still underway, and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised that “all possible assistance” will be given to those affected. The collision happened when the Coromandel Express, which runs from Kolkata to Chennai, derailed and fell onto the opposite track. Many people are still trapped in the wreckage.
H K Dwivedi, West Bengal’s chief secretary, described the accident as “a grave accident,” whilst unnamed South Eastern Railway officials said that they fear the number of casualties will be high. At the time of reporting, they had not publicly disclosed how many people have died.
Archana Joshi, general manager for South Eastern Railways, could not provide casualty figures but said that a large number of people with injuries were being taken to hospitals. “Railway rescue teams from Kharagpur and other nearby stations have already reached the site. Relief and rescue efforts are underway,” Joshi stated.
The news of this crash comes after a recent report by the Indian government revealed that in the last five years more than 22,000 people have died in train-related accidents in India. A significant number of these deaths are attributed to derailments. India’s rail network is vast – it is the fourth largest in the world – but it has struggled with underinvestment, poor maintenance and transportation of over-capacity.
The collision is similar to another train disaster that took place in 2016 in the same district of Odisha. At that time, fifty-two people were killed when a runaway train derailed and hit a freight train.
This latest incident will raise safety concerns among the public regarding India’s rail industry. The country’s rail network has been undergoing a large-scale modernisation project to improve safety and efficiency, but it is still a work in progress.
The Indian Railways system is owned and operated by the Indian government through the Ministry of Railways. It is one of the largest and busiest rail networks in the world, transporting over 8 billion passengers annually. It is also one of the largest employers in India, with more than 1.3 million employees.
In 2017, the Indian government announced a massive £120 billion ($144 billion) investment plan to modernise and upgrade India’s rail network over a five-year period. Alongside the installation of advanced signalling systems, safety measures, electrification and doubling of tracks, this modernisation programme also plans to introduce state-of-the-art trains, upgrade railway stations and provide better passenger amenities.
There have been some safety improvements over recent years, including the elimination of unmanned railway crossings and retrofitting existing locomotives with modern braking systems. However, accidents like this highlight that there is still much work to be done.
India’s rail industry not only carries millions of passengers daily but also plays a crucial role in the country’s economy. The modernisation project is not only about improving transportation but also intended to have a positive impact on the country’s economy. An efficient and reliable rail network will help boost economic growth by allowing businesses to transport goods faster and more effectively.
However, the horrific crash in Odisha and the high number of casualties have once again brought into focus the challenges faced by India’s rail industry. Additional investment will be required to improve safety, upgrade infrastructure, and train staff to provide a better service. It is hoped that this latest disaster will not only spur the government into providing additional investment, but also increase overall public awareness and support for these needed improvements.
