NEW DELHI: The anti-collision system ‘Kavach’ was not installed in the Kanchanjunga Express, which collided with a goods train on Monday, resulting in at least 8 fatalities and over 20 injuries, according to Jaya Varma Sinha, Chairman & CEO of the Railway Board. Sinha indicated that “signal disregard” appears to be the primary cause of the accident, suggesting a human error at first glance. However, a detailed inquiry is necessary to confirm the specifics.
Absence of ‘Kavach System’
The Kanchanjunga Express lacked the ‘Kavach system’, a critical component designed to mitigate human errors. Sinha emphasized the importance of ‘Kavach’ in preventing such incidents, noting its planned installation on the Delhi-Howrah route, which includes West Bengal, within the year. Currently, ‘Kavach’ covers 1500 km of railway routes, with an expansion plan to cover an additional 3000 km this year and the same distance next year.
What is ‘Kavach’?
‘Kavach’ is an Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system developed by the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) in collaboration with Indian industry. It automatically regulates train speed by applying brakes if the driver fails to do so. It prevents collisions by stopping the train if signals are disregarded or speed limits are exceeded. Additionally, it operates effectively in adverse weather conditions, such as dense fog, and can halt a train upon detecting another train on the same track.
Safety Features
One of ‘Kavach’s key features is its automatic braking system, which helps prevent over-speeding and collisions. According to Indian Railways, the system boasts a Safety Integrity Level 4 (SIL-4) certification, indicating an extremely low error probability of once in 10,000 years.
Conclusion
The tragic accident involving the Kanchanjunga Express highlights the critical need for advanced safety systems like ‘Kavach’ to prevent human errors and enhance railway safety. As the Railway Board moves forward with its installation plans, the hope is that such systems will significantly reduce the risk of future accidents.
