The government has informed the Parliament that the June 17 Kanchenjunga train accident has been classified under the category of “error in train working”, according to the inquiry report of the Commissioner of Railway Safety.
“The rear end collision between Train No. 13174 DN (Kanchenjunga Express) and DN GFCJ Container (a freight train) took place on 17.06.2024 at 08:50 Hrs in Rangapani-Chatterhat block section of Katihar division of Northeast Frontier Railway,” Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said.
He further said that it is a broad gauge, double line, electrified section which has automatic signalling.
In response to questions from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Neeraj Shekhar, Vaishnaw stated that the accident was investigated by the statutory body, the Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety (CCRS), under the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
He said that the inquiry report has been received from the CCRS. “According to this inquiry report, the accident has been classified under the category of ‘error in train working,” he added.
Vaishnaw apprised the Upper House of Parliament of three key measures implemented by the government based on the CCRS’s recommendations.
“Railway Board has issued Unified Subsidiary Rules and Authority Forms under GR (General Rule) 9.12 vide letter dated 16.08.2024,” he said.
“Guidelines for improving reliability of signalling system have been issued by Railway Board vide letter dated 31.07.2024. Further, specifically for the section, Zonal Railway has drawn an action plan and same has been implemented to improve the reliability,” the minister added.
Vaishnaw stated that the Railway Board, in a letter dated August 5, has directed all railway zones to follow a joint procedure for handling Automatic Signalling Territory as outlined in GR 9.12.
(With PTI inputs)
