In a shocking revelation, India’s Railways Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, disclosed on Monday that a fatal train collision claiming 14 lives in Andhra Pradesh last October was the result of distracted train drivers engrossed in a cricket match. The tragic incident unfolded amidst the excitement of India versus England during the one-day World Cup.
“The recent case in Andhra Pradesh happened because both the loco-pilot and co-pilot were distracted by the cricket match,” Minister Vaishnaw stated, as reported by the Press Trust of India news agency.
The collision has spurred urgent action from railway authorities. Vaishnaw announced plans to install systems designed to detect distractions, ensuring that train drivers and assistants remain fully focused on their critical task of running trains.
India, renowned for its cricket fervor, witnessed hundreds of millions of fans glued to their screens during the live broadcast of the World Cup match, which India triumphed in.
Negligence Unveiled: Station Master and Staff Sacked after Runaway Freight Train Incident
In a separate incident highlighting negligence, officials have sacked a station master and three other employees after a harrowing episode where a runaway freight train traversed 70 kilometers (40 miles) without a driver just last month, according to the Hindustan Times.
The employees were relieved of their duties due to negligence after approximately 50 carriages barreled along solo for nearly two hours, posing a serious safety hazard.
India, with one of the world’s largest rail networks, has a history marred by tragic disasters. The nation suffered its worst rail disaster in 1981 when a train derailed in Bihar state, claiming an estimated 800 lives. In a more recent catastrophe, a three-train collision in June 2023 resulted in nearly 300 fatalities in Odisha state.
In response to these alarming incidents, India has been actively investing substantial sums to modernize its railway network. Initiatives include the development of modern stations and implementation of electronic signaling systems aimed at enhancing safety and efficiency.
This latest revelation underscores the need for stringent measures to ensure the undivided attention of train operators, highlighting the grave consequences distractions can yield in the high-stakes realm of railway transportation.
