Kavach Security System, Which Could Have Prevented Bengal Train Crash, Was Absent On Darjeeling Tracks

The Kavach, a made-in-India protection system to prevent accidents and collisions when two trains are on the same track, was not operational on the tracks in Darjeeling where a goods train rammed into the Sealdah-bound Kanchanjunga Express on Monday.

Soon after the crash, a video of Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw explaining the Kavach system went viral triggering a debate on why the security system is not available in most railway networks. Officials stated that the system has yet to be installed in much of the rail network.

On the Kanchenjunga Express accident, former Railways Minister Dinesh Trivedi said, “It is too early to talk about the cause of it but in modern times it required an inquiry and deep corrections. I am guessing that possibly this engine did not have ‘Kavach’ (an automatic train protection (ATP) system). I do not doubt that the government will take corrective action.”

What is the Kavach Railway Security System?

Kavach is an anti-collision protection system that allows high-speed trains to run at full tilt without worrying about them derailing or crashing into another train was developed by Indian railways.

It is indigenously developed by the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RSCO) with three Indian firms and controls the speeding of trains but also helps locomotive drivers avoid missing danger signals and ensure that trains run safely, especially in low-visibility conditions.

In the absence of this system, loco pilots or assistant loco pilots used to crane their necks out of the window to look out for caution signs and signals.

Taking forward the government’s AatmaNirbhar Bharat vision, Kavach has been adopted as the national automatic train protection system.

How Wide Is Kavach Coverage?

Despite high demand for ‘Kavach’ protection, just 10 route km and 18 locomotives have been added across the Indian Railway network during this financial year, the government informed during the Winter Session of the Lok Sabha.

The Ministry informed the House that ‘Kavach’ has so far been deployed on 1,465 route km and 139 locomotives (including Electric Multiple Unit rakes) on the South Central Railway.

Till the end of 2023, the Ministry document shows that the technology covered 1,455 km of South Central Railway.

Kanchanjunga Express Accident

At least eight people died and 60 were injured as a goods train collided with the Sealdah-bound Kanchanjunga Express near Rangapani station in West Bengal on Monday, police said.

Three rear compartments of the express train derailed under the impact of the collision from behind by the locomotive of the goods train, railway officials said.

While earlier PM Narendra Modi had announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured, Railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has now announced an enhanced ex-gratia compensation of Rs 10 lakh in case of death, Rs 2.5 Lakh towards grievous and Rs 50,000 for minor injuries.