Train-to-train collisions or derailment of train often result in destruction, and severe and numerous fatal injuries. Severe loss can be faced by the passengers, crew members, and anyone present in that particular area. We have to critically analyse and understand the causes and other patterns for train collisions, so that the victims can seek for justice and compensation. Other causes that might lead to train accidents and derailment could be due to poorly trained rail employees, objects on the track, speedy trains, falling of trees on track, or people standing in front of a coming train attempting to suicide. High speed trains can lead to dangerous consequences. In order to avoid such accidents, new equipped and safe technologies should be used.
As per the reports from Ministry of Railway, there have been more than 38,500 railway accidents from 1961 to 2019. The year 2019-20 was recorded by the Indian Railways where they reported zero passenger’s injury. In the year 2023-24, at least 313 people died in 40 train accidents and 748 people have died in 638 train accidents in the last ten years.
According to surveys, there are incidents when people put their lives at risk, while boarding on trains, or to get off, in either of the cases, tries to run or jump off. In this year itself, a lot of train accidents took place leaving behind thousands of people injured. According to the Railway sources the cause of the incident may have been a faulty automatic signal.
There’s a case which tells us to be more aware during travelling. A recent case is about a man who went to drop his wife at a railway station ended up travelling with her in a premium journey. He boarded in Rajahmundry in the recently-launched Vande Bharat Express train running between Vishakhapatnam and Secunderabad to click photos but got stuck inside as its doors got abruptly locked. On April 2, his daughter, Kosha even shared a post on X of her parents’ ‘exclusive premium journey’. The man had to drop his wife to board the ‘Vande Bharat Express’, but unfortunately the automated doors of the train got closed leaving the man locked inside the coach at the same time. At first instance, the man didn’t realise what the beep sound was all about but as the train puts up its speed, the man got trapped inside the train.
Safety And Security
The Incident has raised safety and security concerns while boarding the train.
Here are some precautions that you can take while boarding train:
In case of any emergency, accidents and other safety, try to get connected to the Indian Railways customer care and helpline, call 138 and 139 for any grievances; 1800 11 1322 (Railway Police).
Always keep an I’d proof with yourself for any unexpected mishappening.
Travel to the railway station before time at least taking a gap of half an hour to avoid any sort of accident.
Avoid the surrounding’s distraction so as make sure that you are aware, as it would prevent you from hearing an approaching train, or, the trains’ beep sound while the doors get abruptly closed leaving you trapped inside the train.
Just remember to pay attention to all the announcements, regarding warnings and signals given at the station or made by the train crew.
In case of any emergency, for accidents and other safety, try to get connected to the Indian Railways customer care and helpline, call 138 and 139 for any grievances; 1800 11 1322 (Railway Police).
While boarding on a train, or to get off, in either of the cases, once the train’s departure whistle blows, do not try to run or jump off the train.
Look around your area to locate the nearest emergency exits.
