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India’s deadly train crash renews questions over safety as government pushes railway upgrade
India's prime minister had been scheduled to inaugurate an electrical semi-high-speed train equipped with a safety feature — another step in the modernization of an antiquated railway that is the lifeline of the world's most populous nation.
Instead on Saturday, Narendra Modi traveled to eastern Odisha state to deal with one of the country's worst train disasters that left over 280 dead and hundreds injured. The massive derailment on Friday night involving two passenger trains is a stark reminder of safety issues that continue to challenge the vast railway system that transports nearly 22 million passengers each day.
India, a country of 1.42 billion people, has one of the world's most extensive and complicated railways built during the British colonial era: more than 40,000 miles (64,000 kilometers) of tracks, 14,000 passenger trains and 8,000 stations. Spread across the country from the Himalayas in the north to the beaches in the south, it is also a system that is weakened by decades of mismanagement and neglect. Despite efforts to improve safety, several hundred accidents happen every year.
From 2017 to 2021, there were more than 100,000 train-related deaths in India, according to a 2022 report published by the National Crime Records Bureau. That figure includes cases in which passengers fell from the trains, collisions, and people being mowed by speeding trains on the tracks.
Official data also suggests derailments are the most common form of rail accidents in India, but have been on a decline in recent years.
According to India's Comptroller and Auditor General, Indian Railways recorded 2,017 accidents from 2017 to 2021. Derailments accounted for 69% of the accidents, resulting in 293 deaths.
The report found multiple factors including track defects, maintenance issues, outdated signaling equipment, and human errors as main causes of the derailments. It also said lack of money or non-utilization of available funds for track restorations led to 26% of the accidents.
Even though the railway safety in India has improved compared to earlier years when serious crashes and accidents near unmanned crossings were more frequent, scores have still died and hundreds have been injured.
In 2016, a passenger train slid off the tracks between the cities of Indore and Patna, killing 146 people. A year later, a derailment in southern India killed at least 36 passengers.
The Modi government, in power for nine years, has invested tens of billions of dollars in the railways. The money has been spent on renovating or replacing the old tracks laid by the British in the 19th century, introducing new trains and removing thousands of unmanned railway crossings.
The train Modi was supposed to inaugurate Saturday was India's 19th Vande Bharat Express, connecting the western city of Mumbai and the southern state of Goa.
The modern trains are designed to help reduce the risk of crashes and derailments. They will be paired with a countrywide automatic train collision protection system, a technology that will make travel safe, according to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
But the system was not yet installed on the track where Friday's crash took place. It wasn't clear what caused the trains to derail and an investigation has started.
Experts suggest that the country's railway system needs to prioritize safe tracks and collision protection.
"India has achieved some success in making train journeys safer over the years, but a lot more needs to be done. The entire system needs a realignment and distributed development. We can't just focus on modern trains and have tracks that aren't safe," said Swapnil Garg, a former officer of the Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers.
Garg said the crash should "shake up the whole railway system" and prompt authorities to look at the "lax safety culture."
"I don't expect authorities to turn the key and fix things quickly. The Indian railway system is huge and it will take time to make it more safer. But there needs to be a will," he said.
PM Hasina flags off new intercity train 'Chilahati Express' on Dhaka-Chilahati route
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday (June 4, 2023) flagged off a new intercity train named 'Chilahati Express' on Dhaka-Chilahati-Dhaka route in a bid to strengthen the connectivity between the northern region with the capital and expand the business in the area.
The premier commissioned the Chilahati Express through a virtual platform, joining an event at Chilahati Railway Station from her official residence Ganabhaban.
Read more: PM strikes defiant tone in face of US pressure
The Chilahati Express, having the capacity of 800 passengers, will run on Dhaka-Chilahati-Dhaka route six days in a week.
Now freight trains and cross-border train ‘Mitali Express’ run on the Dhaka-Chilahati route.
Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan spoke at the function from Chilahati end in Nilphamari, while lawmaker Asaduzzaman Noor MP (Nilphamari-2) and other local MPs, among others, were present there.
Read more: Govt’s efforts on to keep economy vibrant despite global recession: PM
Principal Secretary Tofazzel Hossain Miah conducted the event, while Railways Secretary Muhammad Humayun Kabir delivered the welcome speech from Ganabhaban end.
Indian officials end rescue work for 2 wrecked passenger trains that killed over 300 people
With rescue work finished, authorities began clearing the mangled wreckage of two passenger trains that derailed in eastern India, killing more than 300 people and injuring hundreds in one of the country’s deadliest rail accidents in decades, officials said Sunday (June 4, 2023).
Investigators are looking into possible causes behind Friday (June 2, 2023) night’s crash in Balasore district of eastern Odisha state, including whether human error or signal failure played a role.
Fifteen bodies were recovered on Saturday evening and efforts continued overnight as heavy cranes were used to remove an engine that had settled on top of a rail car. No bodies were found in the engine and the work was completed on Sunday morning, said Sudhanshu Sarangi, director-general of fire and emergency services in Odisha.
Read more: India train accident: 2 Bangladeshis receiving treatment in hospital, says deputy high commissioner
India train accident: 2 Bangladeshis receiving treatment in hospital, says deputy high commissioner
Two Bangladeshis were hospitalized with injuries following Friday’s (June 2, 2023) train crash in India, Andalib Elias, deputy high commissioner at the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata, said.
“We do not have any information about any deceased Bangladeshis; what we know so far is two Bangladeshi injured passengers are currently undergoing treatment in two hospitals in Odisha,” he said in a video message.
Also read: India train crash kills over 280, injures 900 in country's deadliest rail accident in decades
“Also families of four train passengers contacted us from Bangladesh and said they (the four Bangladeshis) are still missing. We are trying to trace them and already a team from the Kolkata deputy high commission went to the accident site this morning. Hopefully after reaching there they will coordinate with the injured Bangladeshis there,” he added.
The mission provided an emergency Whatsapp number: +919038353533 for further assistance.
Aslo read: Train accident in Odisha: Hotline opened for query about Bangladeshis
Rescuers found no more survivors in the overturned and mangled wreckage of two passenger trains that derailed in eastern India, killing more than 280 people and injuring hundreds in one of the country’s deadliest rail crashes in decades, AP reported.
Also read: India train crash: some Bangladeshis suffered minor injuries, says deputy high commission
India train crash: some Bangladeshis suffered minor injuries, says deputy high commission
The Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata has received reports of minor injuries suffered by a few Bangladeshi passengers, but the number is not known yet, a diplomat has told UNB.
A team of the High Commission is on the way to the accident site to learn more details, he said.
Also read: India train crash kills over 280, injures 900 in country's deadliest rail accident in decades
Two passenger trains derailed in India last night (June 2, 2023), killing more than 280 people. Hundreds of others were trapped inside more than a dozen mangled rail cars in one of the country's deadliest train accidents in decades.
The train accident happened about 220 km southwest of Kolkata. About 900 people were injured in the accident in Balasore district in the state of Odisha, said the state's top administrative official.
Train accident in Odisha: Hotline opened for query about Bangladeshis
A hotline has been opened to provide information or query about Bangladeshis following the horrific train crash in India’s Odisha.Bangladesh Deputy High Commission, Kolkata issued a press release in this regard soon after the accident.It also expressed profound condolences to the families of victims of the tragic Coromandel Express accident, and wished early recovery of the injured.For further query it asked to contact +919038353533 (WhatsApp).
Also read: India train crash kills over 280, injures 900 in country's deadliest rail accident in decades
At least 280 bodies were recovered overnight and into Saturday morning, Sudhanshu Sarangi, director of Odisha's fire department, told The Associated Press.
He said more than 800 injured passengers were taken to various hospitals with many in critical condition.The accident, which happened about 220 kilometers (137 miles) southwest of Kolkata on Friday night, led to a chaotic scene as rescuers climbed atop the wrecked trains to break open doors and windows using cutting torches to free survivors.About 900 people were injured in the accident in Balasore district in the eastern state of Odisha, said P.K. Jena, the state's top administrative official. The cause was under investigation.Read more: India train crash: some Bangladeshis suffered minor injuries, says deputy high commission
India train crash kills over 280, injures 900 in country's deadliest rail accident in decades
Rescuers waded through piles of debris and wreckage to pull out bodies and free people on Saturday (June 3, 2023) after two passenger trains derailed in India, killing more than 280 people. Hundreds of others were trapped inside more than a dozen mangled rail cars overnight in one of the country's deadliest train crashes in decades.
The accident, which happened about 220 kilometers (137 miles) southwest of Kolkata on Friday (June 2, 2023) night, led to a chaotic scene as rescuers climbed atop the wrecked trains to break open doors and windows using cutting torches to free survivors.
About 900 people were injured in the accident in Balasore district in the eastern state of Odisha, said P.K. Jena, the state's top administrative official. The cause was under investigation.
At least 280 bodies were recovered overnight and into Saturday morning, Sudhanshu Sarangi, director of Odisha's fire department, told The Associated Press. He said more than 800 injured passengers were taken to various hospitals with many in critical condition.
Also Read: India train crash death toll rises above 230 with 900 injured as rescuers comb through debris
Rescuers were cutting through the destroyed rail cars to find people who may still be trapped. Sarangi said it was possible that people were stuck underneath but that it was unlikely they would still be alive.
"By 10 p.m. (on Friday) we were able to rescue the survivors. After that it was about picking up dead bodies," he said. "This is very, very tragic. I have never seen anything like this in my career."
Ten to 12 coaches of one train derailed, and debris from some of the mangled coaches fell onto a nearby track, said Amitabh Sharma, a railroad ministry spokesperson. The debris was hit by another passenger train coming from the opposite direction, causing up to three coaches of the second train to also derail, he added.
A third train carrying freight was also involved, the Press Trust of India reported, but there was no immediate confirmation of that from railroad authorities. PTI said some of the derailed passenger coaches hit cars from the freight train.
Read more: India train crash: Few Bangladeshis suffered minor injuries, says deputy high commission
The death toll rose steadily throughout the night as footage showed shattered carriages that had overturned completely. Scores of dead bodies, covered by white sheets, lay on the ground near the train tracks as locals and rescuers raced to help survivors.
Teams of rescuers and police continued sifting through the ruins on Saturday morning as the search operation carried on, amid fears that the death toll is likely to rise further. Scores of people also showed up at a local hospital to donate blood.
Officials said 1,200 rescuers worked with 115 ambulances, 50 buses and 45 mobile health units through the night at the accident site. Saturday was declared as a day of mourning in Odisha as the state's chief minister, Naveen Patnaik, reached the district to meet injured passengers.
Villagers said they rushed to the site to evacuate people after hearing a loud sound created by the train coaches going off the tracks.
Read more: Railway suspends 3 employees over Cumilla train collision, salvage work continues
"The local people really went out on a limb to help us. They not only helped in pulling out people, but retrieved our luggage and got us water," PTI cited Rupam Banerjee, a survivor, as saying.
Passenger Vandana Kaleda said that inside the train during the derailment people were "falling on each other" as her coach shook violently and veered off the tracks.
"As I stepped out of the washroom, suddenly the train tilted. I lost my balance. ... Everything went topsy turvy. People started falling on each other and I was shocked and could not understand what happened. My mind stopped working," she said, adding she felt lucky to survive.
Another survivor who did not give his name said he was sleeping when the impact woke him up. He said he saw other passengers with broken limbs and disfigured faces.
Read more: Train accident in Odisha: Hotline opened for query about Bangladeshis
The derailed Coromandel Express was traveling from Howrah in West Bengal state to Chennai, the capital of southern Tamil Nadu state, PTI said.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his thoughts were with the bereaved families.
"May the injured recover soon," tweeted Modi, who said he had spoken to the railway minister and that "all possible assistance" was being offered.
Despite government efforts to improve rail safety, several hundred accidents occur every year on India's railways, the largest train network under one management in the world.
Read more: A look at deadly train crashes in India in recent decades
In August 1995, two trains collided near New Delhi, killing 358 people in one of the worst train accidents in India.
In 2016, a passenger train slid off the tracks between the cities of Indore and Patna, killing 146 people.
Most train accidents are blamed on human error or outdated signaling equipment.
More than 12 million people ride 14,000 trains across India every day, traveling on 64,000 kilometers (40,000 miles) of track.
Read more: India sees huge potential for cooperation with Bangladesh Railway
Sylhet’s rail link with rest of the country snapped again
Train communication between Sylhet and the rest of the country remained suspended again since Sunday morning as the removal of two bogies and engine of a train began at Kamalganj upazila in Moulvibazar district.
Kabir Ahmad, a master of Bhanughat railway station, said the train movement from Moulvibazar to other parts of the country remained suspended since 9 am after the removal works started early in the morning.
Md Anisuzzaman, deputy engineer of Kulaura railway junction, said the removal of the derailed bogies and engine will be completed soon, and train operations will resume.
The engine and two bogies of Sylhet-bound ‘Udayan Express’ train from Chattogram veered off the tracks after hitting a tree that fell on the tracks due to storm while passing the Lawachara National Park around 5 am on Saturday, halting train movement.
Also read: Train services resume on Sylhet route after 15 hours
Rail connectivity between Sylhet and the rest of the country returned to normal around 7:30 pm after removal of the bogies and the engine from the tracks on Saturday, after a nearly 15-hour suspension. But those were not removed from the forest area on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the railway department formed a five-member committee to investigate the accident.
The committee, led by Divisional Railway Manager (Dhaka) Shafiqul Islam, already visited the spot on Saturday afternoon.
Dhaka-Cox’s Bazar train to start operation by Sept: Railway Minister
Dhaka-Cox's Bazar train will start operation by September this year, said Railway Minister Md. Nurul Islam Sujan on Tuesday.
The Minister revealed the information at the iconic station building in Cox’s Bazar during a visit to Dohazari-Cox’s Bazar rail line construction work.
Also Read: Padma Bridge Rail Link: 75% complete, on course for June 2024 handover
He said, "Among the ten priority projects of the government, two are currently underway in the railway sector. The first one is the Padma bridge rail link project, and the second is Dohazari-Cox's Bazar new rail line construction project."
Responding to questions regarding the potential challenges posed by the Kalurghat bridge, the minister assured that an expert team is diligently working on the renovation of the bridge.
Also Read: Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar rail line to open this year: Railways Minister
He said, "We have taken steps to renovate the bridge based on the recommendations of the expert team. There will be no obstacles to operating train once the necessary renovations are complete."
The Dohazari-Cox's Bazar railway construction project, funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), involves the construction of a new 101 km dual gauge single line connecting Dohazari to Cox's Bazar via Ramu.
Once completed, it will be connected with the Trans-Asian Railway Corridor.
Train movement from Ctg, Sylhet to Dhaka resumes 9 hrs after rail tracks in B’baria bent due to heat
Train movement from Chattogram and Sylhet (up line) to Dhaka resumed on Saturday night around nine hours after the rail tracks got bent due to severe heat in Brahmanbaria.
Mehedhi Hasan Md Tarek, executive engineer of Akhaura Railway, said the train communication of Dhaka with Chattogram and Sylhet (up line) resumed around 8pm after fixing the train tracks.
“We ended the repair works of the bent tracks immediately along with fixing the fittings after the temperature fell down in the afternoon,” he said, adding that patrolling measures will be taken to ward off such incidents in future.
Also Read: Container train derails in Brahmanbaria; Rail communication from Ctg, Sylhet to Dhaka snapped
According to the railway, rail tracks may bend when temperature goes beyond 40 Degree Celsius. The tracks in the district got bent for the second time in a week.
Earlier, the train movement from Chattogram and Sylhet (up line) to Dhaka was suspended as the rail tracks got bent due to severe heat.
Brahmanbaria Railway Station’s Master Md Rafiqul Islam then said the tracks got bent at Dariyarpur in the outskirts of the city around 11am after Dhaka-bound Upakul Express from Nokhali crossed the area around 10 am, snapping rail communication.
However the train movement from Dhaka to Chattogram and Sylhet (down line) remained normal.
Earlier on Thursday afternoon, seven bogies of a container train veered off the tracks in the Dariyarpur area while heading towards the capital from Chattogram due to severe heat around 12:50pm.
The rail tracks became normal for movement around 16 hours later after it was fixed.