Leaked Letter Reveals Prior Warning Of Flaws In Odisha Train Signaling System

New information has emerged regarding the recent train accident in Balasore, Odisha, shedding light on a critical warning that went unheeded. While Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw attributed the incident to a change in electronic interlocking, it has come to public knowledge that a high-ranking railway official had raised concerns about serious flaws in the signaling system three months prior.

A leaked letter, obtained by India Today, reveals that on February 9, the principal chief operating manager of the South Western Railway zone expressed alarm over a near-disaster involving signal failure on an express train. Fortunately, the alertness of the train's locomotive pilot prevented a collision. However, this incident exposed worrisome issues within the system, as the route of dispatch inexplicably changed after the train had already begun its journey—a clear violation of interlocking principles.

In the letter, the official emphasized the urgent need to take action against those responsible and rectify the flaws present in the signaling system within the South Western Railway territory. He called for a thorough investigation into the incident and urged the sharing of findings and corrective measures with station masters, traffic officers, and relevant personnel.

Tragically, on Friday, a triple train crash involving the Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express, Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, and a goods train resulted in a devastating loss of life. Reports indicate that at least 275 people have perished, with over 1,100 sustaining injuries.

The official's warning extended beyond the specific incident, cautioning that failure to promptly monitor and correct the signal maintenance system could lead to similar accidents in the future, potentially claiming more lives.

As a result of this horrific train accident, a petition has been filed in the Supreme Court, calling for the implementation of an automatic train safety system called Kavach to prevent such tragedies from occurring again.

This sobering event serves as a stark reminder of the negligence in addressing previously highlighted flaws. Urgent action must be taken to rectify the deficiencies within the signaling system to prevent further devastating incidents. The safety and well-being of passengers should always remain the paramount concern in railway transportation.

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