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Writer's pictureShaurya Vivek

West Bengal Train Accident: A Wake-Up Call for Indian Railways(UPSC CAPF Essay 2024 | 2025)

  • The recent collision near Siliguri, involving the Sealdah-bound Kanchanjunga Express and a goods train, claimed at least nine lives and injured over 40 people

  • This incident highlights critical issues in railway safety and policy priorities in India.


West Bengal Train Accident Details: 

  • The collision, occurring near Rangapani station, marks the deadliest railway accident since the Balasore incident, which claimed 287 lives last year. Initial reports suggest human error, with a definitive cause pending the Commissioner of Railways Safety's investigation.


West Bengal Train Accident

Safety and Performance: 

  • Indian Railways (IR) has seen some improvements, such as the deployment of the Kavach system, an automatic train protection system on 1,465 route kilometers. 

  • However, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reports indicate persistent safety issues, including high asset failure rates, particularly in signal failures and rail fractures.


Policy Missteps: 

  • Despite a capital outlay of Rs 2.4 lakh crore for 2023-24, there is concern that high-profile projects like the Vande Bharat Express overshadow essential safety measures. 

  • The CAG reports also note stagnation in train speeds and a lack of improvement in punctuality, contrary to claims under initiatives like Mission Raftar.


Communication and Accountability: 

  • The accident underscores the need for robust communication and feedback mechanisms and clear accountability within the railway administration.


Key Areas for Improvement:

  1. Accelerate Safety Technology Deployment: Speed up the implementation of systems like Kavach.

  2. Enhance Communication Systems: Strengthen feedback mechanisms to ensure operational safety.

  3. Balanced Policy Focus: Ensure modernization efforts do not overshadow critical safety improvements.

  4. Clear Accountability: Establish clear lines of responsibility for accidents.

  5. Comprehensive Safety Measures: Adopt a holistic approach to safety in all railway operations.


Conclusion

The West Bengal train accident serves as a stark reminder for Indian Railways to reassess its priorities and focus on improving safety, speed, and capacity to prevent future tragedies and ensure a safer travel experience.


Note: In this UPSC CAPF Essay, we have given subheadings for your reference. When you write in the UPSC exam, you don't need to do that.


West Bengal Train Accident



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