Indian Railways says it has a strong safety record with fewer accidents per million train kilometers than many European systems. Despite this, any accidents that lead to loss of life are unacceptable. It’s crucial to prioritize preventing collisions immediately, rather than waiting for the KAVACH system.
Train accidents leading to deaths are often avoidable, which is the most concerning aspect. Safety should be inherent to railway operations, not an afterthought. Recently, another tragic collision occurred at Rangapani involving the Kanchenjunga Express, resulting in loss of lives and injuries to passengers and crew.
Collisions are the deadliest type of accidents, and in the year 2022-23, Indian Railways reported six collisions, up from two the previous year. Four more collisions occurred in 2023-24, causing significant harm to passengers. While there have been improvements overall, safety must always take precedence over speed and comfort. The ultimate goal for Indian Railways is zero accidents.