Train accidents: Indian Railways mulling technological initiative to remove deadly wheels and rods from tracks

A recent derailment involving 22 rail cars Sabarmati Express The accident was potentially catastrophic but was averted only by the vigilance of 57-year-old locomotive driver AP Bundela, who noticed a “piece of old rail” lying on the track. The incident, suspected to have been an act of sabotage, highlights the risks posed by foreign objects deliberately placed on railway tracks.

Bundela’s quick reaction and 15 years of experience enabled him to apply the emergency brakes in time, averting disaster for the 1,727 passengers on board. Despite this sabotage attempt, there have been at least four recent cases of attempted sabotage, where objects such as rocks, wheels and iron bars were placed on the tracks, raising alarm among railway officials.

Authorities are considering advanced technological solutions to prevent such incidents, ToI reported. The national transporter is exploring the use of Lidar technology and installing CCTV cameras equipped with Artificial Intelligence (AI) on locomotives. Identification of sensitive areas for increased patrolling is also being considered.

In the Sabarmati Express case, the Uttar Pradesh police have filed a case against unknown persons for sabotage. A senior railway official’s complaint about the “piece of rail” deliberately placed on the track prompted the action.

Another incident took place on August 18, when iron rods were found on the railway tracks near Kachhpura junction in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. While the engine collided with the rods, no accident took place. An official said, “Three iron rods measuring 9 mm in diameter and 11 feet in length were found. They have been retained for investigation.”

In another incident that occurred a few days earlier, the Banaras-Ahmedabad train derailed due to foreign objects placed on the track near Kanpur. Such repetitive incidents are causing concern among officials. “Such incidents are a cause of concern. We are taking all possible measures and exploring how technology can be used to prevent such accidents. CCTV cameras can pick up details of objects from a certain distance, while trains need more than a kilometre to come to a complete stop after applying the emergency brake. It is a big challenge. Efforts are on to nab the culprits,” said an official. Meanwhile, sources revealed that the Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav Senior officials have been holding meetings to finalise details regarding the installation of AI-equipped CCTV cameras on the locomotives. The AI ​​software will process the images captured by the cameras to identify strange objects and supernatural or moving entities, such as animals or humans, and immediately alert the drivers.

The recent spate of sabotage attempts has led to heightened vigilance, with rail officials prioritizing passenger safety and looking to technological advances to mitigate the risks.

(with ToI inputs)