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Bookmarks Train accidents have been a major cause of anxiety in India.One particular type of accident viz collision of oncoming trains with vehicles derailed on adjacent tracks and fouling the running track had occurred twice within a short period at Khanna and Ghaisal.These two accidents were particularly horrendous due to heavy loss of lives and injuries to hundreds.
The scene after a major accident (Picture courtesy BBC) Many committees had enquired into the cause of accidents and submitted voluminous reports with a range of recommendations.The latest is the Committee headed by Justice H R Khanna, which was in the midst of its labours when the above-mentioned accidents occurred. In 1993 I had submitted a basic idea to the Commissioner of Railway Safety, Bombay, to prevent such accidents.The same idea was again submitted to the Justice Khanna Committee. A summary of my memorandum is reproduced below: "Subject:PreventableTrain Accidents In a recent accident near Ludhiana, the oncoming Sealdah Express rammed into the derailed coaches of the Frontier Mail from the opposite track obstructing the line.Over 200 people died in this gruesome accident. With the spacing between tracks necessarily having constraints, derailed vehicles fouling opposite tracks will continue to occur and accidents similar to the recent one can recur.In the past also there have been many such accidents. Such accidents are, however, preventable, using modern technology.My suggestion is briefly as under:. Every locomotive and Guard's compartment must be fitted with a transceiver,which will be normally in the receive mode.In the event of an emergency, such as obstruction of tracks due to derailed coaches, the driver or guard should operate a simple,easily accessible SOS switch which will send a wireless signal to all trains within a range of 3 to 4 kilometres to sound an alarm and also APPLY THE BRAKES AUTOMATICALLY, by operation of an interface valve.. The trains stopped by application of the emergency brakes can proceed further at a cautious speed prepared to stop short of any obstruction, thus obviating any unnecessary hold-up. If the oncoming train is at a short distance from the obstruction collision can still occur, but will be less horrendous, as the speed would have been considerably reduced.In the Ludhiana accident, with such equipment in position the oncoming train would have stopped well short of the derailed coaches. Prof Ashok Jhujnjhunwala of Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai, who has done pioneering work in wireless communication technology has cleared the suggestion as technically feasible, but has suggested that the technology should be for conveying a digital message and can be integrated with the Low Cost Communication System for Railways recommended by his team separately. The same basic idea had been suggested by me to the Commissioner of Railway Safety, Mumbayi some 5 years back in connection with a serious accident on the Western Railway. If Indian Railways set up a Task Force, the details of the technology for the transceiver, the interface valve etc can be finalised and indigenous development undertaken for supply of all required equipment at competitive prices, all within 3 to 4 years.The Indian Railways have a proud record in such matters. Since heavy casualties are unavoidable in such accidents and such accidents are indeed waiting to happen, cost should not be a constraint. Note: A more detailed article on this subject has been published on 15/6/99 in The Hindu(Open Page)" The protection system suggested by me is also usable in a variety of situations to prevent accidents by stopping approaching trains.A hand-held transmitter in the possession of a Permanent Way Inspector can, for instance, help in stopping approaching trains in the event of a dangerous rail fracture, damaged bridge etc. The transmitted signal can also activate Flasher Lights etc. The system also has been thought of to concentrate all repair work at specialised central depots.The transceiver, inter-face valve and SOS switch can all be designed for 'unit replacement'. There will be no dependence on satellites controlled by another Agency. I had posted my suggestion on a number of Message Boards on the Internet. I have also discussed the idea with a number of experienced persons and no adverse comments have been received.One Railway expert from Sweden, Mr Michael Carlson, has in fact recommended that the transceiver system suggested by me be adopted for world-wide use. Prof P V Indiresan,former Director of IIT,Madras , a well-known and highly respected Engineer and newspaper columnist has in an e-mail message to me on Dec 11,2000, confirmed the basic soundness of the scheme proposed by me.He has suggested incorporation of train identification to ensure that only trains on the affected lines are stopped with automatic application of brakes.This point had been thought of by me, but had been dropped to keep the cost in check.If trains on all tracks within a range of 3 to 5 kilometres are stopped, it will cause only minor traffic hold-up, since under the system suggested by me, after stoppage the trains can be re-started and can proceed at a very cautious speed. Mr S Kasy Aiyar,a highly respected retired Chief Mechanical Engineer, Indian Railways, and World Bank Consultant has also endorsed the idea of the transceiver as eminently suitable. Another endorsement has come from Mr Pramode Kumar,a Mechanical Engineer, who retired as General Manager of a Zonal Railway.He has stated that the basic idea is 'wonderful'. The Khanna Committee has submitted Part I of its report which is available at As on date the Indian Railways have the following anti-collision systems proposed or on trial:
What is required is a quick study of all available suggestions by a small expert body of officials and non-officials to arrive at a system which will meet all requirements, will be economical, easy to maintain and not involving any major imports.I will be happy to submit a detailed note to such an expert body on my proposal.The subject has to be approached with an open mind with no pre-conceived notions.I have made it clear in a subsequent communication to Justice Khanna that I seek no personal gain or publicity in pursuing the subject.My only motivation is public interest and the still alive spirit of a pre-1947 Freedom Fighter. I will be keeping this web-page updated with any additional information as it becomes available. For very useful information on the subject, please visit the dedicated website on Railway safety. August 1,2000
The accident in Punjab on Dec 2,2000 (Photo courtesyThe Times of India) Another major accident has occurred on Indian Railways on December 2,2000- of a familiar kind viz collision of an oncoming train with derailed vehicles from an adjacent track.This accident has occurred close to the location where another accident of the same type occurred almost two years back.The present accident has so far claimed 36 lives with major injuries to 140. The facts are:
As correctly stated by Mr M N Prasad, former Chairman, Railway Board,in an interview broadcast by All India Radio, the time has passed for debates and enquiries.Action has to be taken on a war footing. As on date(December19) the promised Judicial Commission to enquire into the accident has not started functioning.In any case,people in this country have lost faith in such Commissions and see them only as means for politicians to buy time.Also such Commissions tend to go on forever.(Which retired Judge or bureaucrat wants to finish the job and forsake all the perks and privileges?) Reports submitted by Commissions gather dust in obscure offices in the company of dozens of earlier reports. It appears to me that the authorities will wake up only when(God forbid!) a VVIP gets hurt or killed in an accident.They do sometimes travel by train!! (More details will be posted as they become available) Posted on December 3,2000 About myself & this site The Bright Face of India The Bright Face of India-II For A Clean Face Of India Preventable Train Accidents Consumer Problems Suggestions!Suggestions! A Citizen's Anguish Bharat Mail World Media Carnatic Music Site My Other Site
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