It’s quite disheartening to see that even after nearly 77 years of independence, we haven’t been able to stop train accidents in our country. Technology advances with time and things improve, but in this matter, we haven’t done very well. Because in India, one of the deadliest train accidents ever occurred in 2023 in Odisha, where nearly 300 people lost their lives.
According to a report, there are approximately 49 railway accidents every day in India, resulting in at least 45 deaths each day. This number is quite alarming because it totals around 16,500 annually. However, not every time the reason for people’s deaths is a system failure. 67% of the deaths occur due to people falling from trains or colliding with them on the tracks.
15 Noteworthy Train Accidents in Recent Decades
1. Kanchanjungha Express, West Bengal – 2024
Recently, at least 15-20 people died in a train accident. This accident occurred on 17th June due to a collision with a goods train near New Jalpaiguri railway station.
2. Triple train accident, Odisha – 2023
This was a significant triple train collision that filled hearts with despair and was discussed worldwide. Nearly 300 people lost their lives and over 1,200 were injured in this accident that occurred near Balasore district in Odisha.
3. Kadalundi train disaster, Kerala – 2001
This accident, in which 59 people died and 241 were injured, occurred when the train was crossing the Kadalundi River, and at that time, its coaches fell into the water of the river below.
4. Godhra train burning, Gujarat – 2002
This is a soul-shaking incident where pilgrims and karsevaks (dedicated to others) were returning from Ayodhya. Suddenly, the train caught fire, the cause of which remains unknown to this day. This incident occurred on 27 February 2002, resulting in the deaths of 59 people and injuries to 48 others.
5. Rafiganj train wreck, Bihar – 2002
In 2002, the country witnessed two major train accidents, one of which was this. When the train was crossing over the Dhave River, it derailed and fell into the water, resulting in the deaths of at least 130 people and injuring more than 150 others.
6. Karwar-Mumbai holiday special derailed, Maharashtra, 2003
On June 23, 2003, when a train was passing through a tunnel, large boulders had fallen onto the tracks due to heavy rains and a landslide. The engine collided with these boulders, resulting in a horrific accident. Around 50 people lost their lives in this train accident, and nearly 100 people were injured.
7. Valigonda train wreck, Telangana – 2005
The incident on October 29, 2005, was caused by a flood which washed away a small rail bridge. This resulted in a train derailment that claimed the lives of 114 people and injured more than 200.
8. Mumbai train bombings – 2006
As soon as this incident began, not only the city of Mumbai but the entire country was shaken, in which 7 serial bomb attacks were carried out on July 11. These attacks resulted in the deaths of 209 people and left more than 700 injured.
9. The Delhi–Lahore Samjhauta Express Blast – 2007
On February 18, 2007, an improvised explosive device (IED) blast was carried out by terrorists on this train. In which 68 people were killed and many were injured.
10. Jnaneswari Express train derailment, West Bengal – 2010
This was a deliberately committed crime in which the railway track was damaged. As a result, more than 150 people lost their lives and over 200 were injured. This horrifying accident took place on May 28, 2010.
11. The Sainthia train collision, West Bengal – 2010
In the collision between Uttar Banga Express and Vananchal Express on 19th July 2010, 66 people died and 165 others were injured.
12. The Fatehpur derailment, Kalka Mail, Uttar Pradesh – 2011
On 10th July 2011, in the tragic train derailment incident, 66 people lost their lives and more than 300 others were injured.
13. Uttar Pradesh train accident – 2015
Another case of train derailment claimed the lives of 58 people and injured nearly 150 others. The accident, which occurred on March 20, 2015, was attributed to brake failure.
14. Pukhrayan Train Derailment, Uttar Pradesh – 2016
On 20th November 2016, the Indore-Patna Express derailed near Pukhrayan, resulting in the deaths of around 150 people and injuries to nearly the same number.
15. Amritsar train disaster, Punjab – 2018
It’s a very heartbreaking incident where on October 19, 2018, two passenger trains plowed into a crowd, causing the deaths of at least 61 people and injuries to more than 74 others.
Conclusion
Seeing all this breaks one’s heart in our country. We often don’t even get to know about the majority of train accidents because unless the number of casualties is very high, it doesn’t become national news. It’s not that our Indian railways are not taking measures to prevent these accidents; they have implemented many safety measures such as –
- German technology-enabled express train coaches – Lighter and safer, made of fire retardant materials, with longer service life and high speed potential.
- GPS-based fog pass device – This helps the loco pilot navigate effectively in foggy conditions.
- Modern track structure – Stronger and more durable tracks.
- Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh – This is a safety fund designed to focus on critical aspects such as signalling, track renewals, bridge rehabilitation, etc.
- Ultrasonic Flaw Detection – This is a technique used to detect faulty components.
Apart from these, there are several other things being attempted to reduce these accidents. However, Indian Railways need to work more faster and harder on this issue.
Also Read – Rajat Dalal’s Controversies and Fights: top 5 incidents that shocked the internet
Some Notable Railway Accidents in Past Century
Firozabad train collision – 20 August, 1995
- Deaths – 358
Gaisal train accident, West Bengal – 2 August, 1999
- Deaths – 285
- Injured – 300+
Bihar train derailment – 6 June, 1981
- Deaths – 235