Supreme Court Seeks Government’s Action Plan for Railway Safety Measures After Odisha Train Tragedy

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The Supreme Court has engaged in a detailed discussion concerning railway safety measures, specifically focusing on the enforcement of the ‘Railway Accidents Protective’ initiatives to prevent mishaps, in the wake of a tragic train accident in Odisha claiming the lives of 293 individuals and injuring over 1,000.

During the court proceedings, a bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and K V Viswanathan probed the Attorney General about the safety protocols implemented by the Railways, including the efficacy and implementation plans for the automatic train protection system, ‘Kavach.’

The bench requested the Attorney General to furnish comprehensive details regarding the protective measures already in place or proposed to be implemented by the Railways in the upcoming hearing scheduled in four weeks. The justices further inquired about the potential financial implications associated with deploying the ‘Kavach’ system nationwide.

The court was addressing a petition seeking explicit directives to the government for the strict enforcement of safety measures to avert railway accidents. The plea also urged for the immediate implementation of guidelines for the ‘Kavach’ system within the Railways.

Highlighting the urgency, the petition emphasized the significant lapse in implementing essential safety mechanisms like the Automatic Train Protection System, citing instances where ‘Kavach’ wasn’t operational, contributing to tragic incidents such as the fatal collision involving two passenger trains and a goods train in Odisha’s Balasore.

The horrifying accident in Balasore marked one of the nation’s most devastating rail tragedies, portraying twisted steel and overturned coaches strewn with passengers’ belongings, resulting in numerous casualties and injuries.

As the Supreme Court seeks detailed insights into safety measures, the discussions underline the pressing need for stringent enforcement of preventive mechanisms to ensure the safety of rail commuters and avert future disasters.

Sources By Agencies