‘Wrong Signalling’ Led to Balasore Triple Train Accident: Inquiry Report

Bhubaneswar: The tragic Balasore triple train accident was caused by “wrong signalling”, stated a high level inquiry report. This report accepted that there were “lapses at multiple levels” in the signalling and telecommunication (S&T) department and several warnings had been reported in the past. This accident could have been avoided if these actions would have been taken in accordance with the warnings.

The Commission of Railway Safety (CRS) submitted an independent report to the Railway Board. This report highlighted the fact that there were shortcomings in the signalling work. The S&T staff could have taken corrective measures if they had been informed about the “repeated unusual behavior” of switches connecting two parallel tracks by the station manager of Bahanaga Bazar, the place of the accident. The probe report also pointed out that there was absence of an approved circuit diagram specific to the station, which led to an incorrect approach to the replacement of the electric lifting barrier at level crossing gate 94 in Bahanaga Bazar.

This flaw resulted in incorrect wiring. The report added that field supervisors attempted to modify the wiring diagram but failed to replicate it accurately.

The report provided an example of a similar incident on May 16, 2022, at Bankranayabaz station in the Kharagpur Division of South Eastern Railway, where faulty wiring and cable issues led to an accident.

The CRS has provided recommendations that include suggestion to launch a campaign to update completion signalling wiring diagrams, as well as other relevant documents and lettering of signaling circuits at the site. Any change in the signalling circuits should only be performed with an approved circuit diagram and under the supervision of an officer.

The report has also suggested the deployment of a separate team to inspect and test modified signalling circuits and functions before restoring and reconnecting the work.