Final probe shows rail flaw detection delay caused North-East Express derailment, ET Infra
Advt
Advt
By ,
PTI
The failure to promptly detect the flaws in the rail caused the derailment of the North-East Express at Raghunathpur Station in Danapur Division of East Central Railway on October 11, 2023, according to a final investigation report.At least four people were killed and several others were injured in the accident in Bihar's Buxar district.The report was submitted by Suvomoy Mitra , the then Commissioner of Railway Safety (Eastern Circle)."Stricker monitoring should be exercised in controlling the various processes involved in manufacture of rails. Railway may consider exploring possibilities of Real Time Monitoring of the health of track, one of the recommendations of the report recently submitted to the Railway Board," it added.The Railways in its action taken report said that continuous improvement and upgradation are being done by it and the rail manufacturing plant of SAIL/Bhilai for ensuring better quality of steel making and rail rolling.It mentioned several steps taken to improve the chemical and metallurgical properties of rails too.Regarding proper monitoring of track health, it said that various modules in the Track Management System (TMS) are operational."These include monitoring of USFD (Ultrasonic Flaw Detection) testing of rails and welds. USFD operators regularly feed the USFD testing data of rail and weld during daily USFD testing on TMS," the Railways said."These USFD testing data are monitored regularly at all concerned levels for necessary maintenance," it added.Addressing the concern of the CRS for real-time monitoring of the health of tracks, the Railways said that three technologies are under trial for broken rail detection systems in various zonal railways.These are the Continuous Broken Rail Detection System (NGRT), which is under trial in North Eastern Railway, Acoustic Domain Technology Rail Acoustic, which is undergoing testing in North Central Railway and Vibration Energy-based Broken Rail Detection System whose trial is in progress in North Central Railway.The CRS has further recommended that proper mechanisms should be available with the Railways for the identification of fatigue cracks developed in rails.The Railways has said that it has come up with a new technology known as Phased Array Ultrasonic Single Rail Tester (PAUT SRT) and Zonal Railways/ PSUs have been advised for the adoption of this new method for rails testing.Commenting on the condition of the engine and coaches, the CRS said that the locomotives and coaches of all running trains should be closely examined and defective rolling stock should not be permitted, more so in Mail Express Trains with high speed."Records of maintenance of Coaches and Loco may be computerized similar to what has been done for Track Monitoring System (TMS) so that the data can be readily accessed for analysis and scrutiny," the probe body said.In response, the Railways said that they already have a laid-down procedure to regularly examine all coaches.The CRS also advised the Railways to consider installing a Cab Voice Recorder in the Loco to record the conversation between the crew during/just before any accident."Crew Voice and Video Recording System (CVVRS) is installed in 479 locomotives and is under implementation by CRIS in all locomotives," the ministry said in its response.The CRS emphasised on the need for formal training or guidelines for videography and photography of the accident site, including drone camera of locomotive, coaches and track.The Railway Ministry said that guidelines for videography and photography at the accident site have already been issued by various orders.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Teary eyes bid farewell to Air India crew member Deepak Pathak who died in Ahmedabad crash
Emotional scenes unfolded at the funeral of Air India crew member Deepak Pathak whose mortal remains were consigned to flames at a Badlapur crematorium in the presence of thousands of mourners on Saturday. The London-bound Air India flight AI-171 carrying 242 passengers and crew members crashed in Ahmedabad last Thursday.(PTI) Pathak (34), who had been serving the national carrier for the past 11 years, was among the crew members aboard the ill-fated London-bound flight which crashed in Ahmedabad on June 12. His body was handed over to his family members after a nine-day-long identification process, confirmed through DNA testing. Tears flowed freely as the coffin arrived at his residence in Rawal Complex on Ambernath-Badlapur Road. Many struggled to hold back emotions, with heartfelt scenes unfolding among the grieving crowd. Pathak's large portrait accompanied the coffin, standing as a silent tribute as mourners offered floral respects. The funeral procession witnessed an overwhelming turnout. Family, friends, neighbours, and people from all walks of life walked behind the flower-bedecked truck carrying Pathak's coffin to the Manjarli crematorium. Pathak's family members had recalled that he had shared his photos on social media just before the flight took off from the Ahmedabad international airport. "He called our mother that morning and just said 'good morning'. That was the last time we heard his voice," his sister had said. "We couldn't speak often because of our schedules, but my mother and I would always talk about him". Pathak was the third of five siblings and had married four years ago. He is survived by his elderly parents, wife, and two married sisters. In the last few days, the last rites of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, pilot in command of the Air India plane, cabin supervisor Shradha Dhavan, senior crew member Aparna Mahadik, and crew member Maithili Patil- all from Maharashtra- were conducted in their respective hometowns. The mortal remains of Capt Sabharwal, Dhavan, and Mahadik were cremated at crematoriums in suburban Chakala, Mulund, and Goregaon in Mumbai, respectively. Maithili Patil's last rites were performed in Raigad district. The London-bound Air India flight AI-171 carrying 242 passengers and crew members crashed in Ahmedabad last Thursday, killing all but one on board, and 29 on the ground as the aircraft smashed into a medical complex.
The Print
4 hours ago
- The Print
Toilet clinic: Bihar village's women-led initiative restores sanitation facility, dignity
The facility was set up in early 2024 under the leadership of Mukhiya Babita Kumari, after it was found that nearly 190 of the 1,269 toilets built under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Grameen had fallen into disrepair — unused, ignored, and in some cases, abandoned altogether. The 'Toilet Clinic' in Bishanpur Baghnagari is the first of its kind in the state, offering repair and restoration services for broken or disused toilets. Operated entirely by local women trained as masons and sanitation workers, the clinic is restoring both sanitation and dignity in the village. New Delhi, Jun 20 (PTI) In a small village in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district, a unique clinic led by woman is healing lives in an unexpected way without checking pulses or prescribing pills. The clinic offers affordable and repair services through local women's self-help groups supported by the Jeevika Livelihoods Mission. Consumables like tiles or taps are billed as per actual use. The women labourers ensure that families do not defecate in the open. 'When a toilet breaks, people feel ashamed to talk about it. But silence only deepens the problem. I wanted a place where repairs could be made without shame where women could lead the solution,' Babita said. 'Agar shauchalay toot gaya, toh sammaan bhi toot jaata hai. Hamne socha, kyu na izzat ki marammat bhi shuru ho? (When a toilet breaks, one's dignity also suffers damage. So we thought why not repair both),' she told PTI over phone. Elected in 2021, Babita's story could have easily followed a familiar script — one where male relatives take over the reins, but when her husband stepped aside to support her leadership, she seized the opportunity not just to govern, but to reimagine what a panchayat can look like when women lead from the front. Supported by the District Water and Sanitation Committee along with the UNICEF, and backed by women's self-help groups under the Jeevika Livelihoods Mission, the clinic has restored over 15 toilets within months. Labour is provided by trained women and materials billed as per use, making the service both affordable and empowering. 'We were proud of being an open defecation free village, but when toilets broke, people silently went back to the fields. Nobody wanted to talk about it,' Babita said. 'Toilets are not just about sanitation. They are about self-respect, especially for women,' she said, adding that real development can only take place if daughters feel safe inside their homes. Beyond sanitation, Babita also tackled the problem of water scarcity, incorporating well rejuvenation into the village plan. Among the 27 dried-up wells, 17 were revived with tree plantations adding to improved groundwater recharge. Under her leadership, tap water coverage rose from 60 per cent to more than 95 per cent. Tap water will only be available if there's is enough ground water, she noted. In her first Gram Sabha meeting, Babita noticed the absence of women. So, she asked the men, gently but firmly: 'When you elected a woman village head, why are other women silent?' That one question changed everything. Today, women's voices are central to village decisions with topics ranging from domestic violence to drainage plans. Babita introduced women-only Gram Sabhas before the official ones, offering a safe space to speak. She helped survivors of violence navigate police complaints and panchayat systems. Six of her thirteen sanitation workers are now women, many of them first-time earners. Rekha Devi, a worker said, 'I no longer depend on anyone. My in-laws now include me in household decisions. I want to educate my daughter so she can earn like me when she grows up.' Through door-to-door visits, puppet shows, and candle marches during 'Swachhata Hi Seva' campaigns, Babita turned sanitation into a community affair. By mid-2024, nearly 2,000 households had begun paying Rs 30 monthly for waste services, generating more than Rs 50,000 each month. The Panchayat introduced nine composting models — tailored, branded, and now sold — at Rs 15 per kg. Monthly revenue from compost sales touches Rs 20,000. In 2023, Bishanpur Baghnagari was declared Muzaffarpur's first model panchayat. Babita's leadership earned her the Yashasvi Mukhiya award and a national best practice recognition under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Grameen. 'Whoever comes in at any time with any problem — whether its an issue regarding toilets or a domestic dispute — I never say no to them. Panchayat should not just be an office, it should offer support to the people who reach out,' she said. Babita Kumari's Toilet Clinics are more than just sanitation hubs. They are symbols of what's possible when empathy meets leadership, and when women are not just beneficiaries but architects of development. As Babita puts it, 'Change doesn't happen in a day. But when every home, every woman becomes a part of it that's when a true revolution begins'. PTI UZM OZ OZ OZ This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Two old boys from Sainik School in Andhra perform yoga during NZ-Vizag sea voyage
New Delhi, Two military veterans and former students of a Sainik School in Andhra Pradesh with a penchant for sailing are currently on a sea voyage from New Zealand to Visakhapatnam, and celebrated Yoga Day mid-sea on Saturday. Two old boys from Sainik School in Andhra perform yoga during NZ-Vizag sea voyage For Delhi-based strategic expert Commodore C Uday Bhaskar , this feat made his heart flush with delight. Bhaskar, also an alumnus of Sainik School Korukonda, said he was in its first batch when the institution began its journey in January 1962. "And, for us Saikorians , it is a matter of great pride as Andhra is in focus today on International Day of Yoga with Visakhapatnam being the centerpiece, and two of the old boys, both in their 60s, performed yoga onboard their boat 'Tystie', on their nautical voyage," he told PTI. As the world celebrated the 11th International Day of Yoga, Bhaskar also shared a note written by Vice Admiral M S Pawar , a former Deputy Chief of Naval Staff , on the duo's voyage. "The day was heralded by two 63-year-old alumni of the National Defence Academy, who are also classmates from Sainik School Korukonda Col Kolsani Srinivas and Capt CDNV Prasad, from the Navy, onboard their 34-ft-long boat named 'Tystie' sailing near the International Date Line in the Pacific," the former DCNS wrote. The 26-year-old boat is on a passage from New Zealand to India via Fiji and the next port of call is Noro in Solomon Islands, Vice Admiral Pawar wrote. Bhaskar said Vice Admiral Pawar is also a Saikorian and that makes this day very special for students and alumni of the Sainik School in Andhra Pradesh that itself has a rich legacy. "The school started in the old palace that was built over a century ago by a maharaja of the Gajapathi royal family . The school's Houses carry the names of the different historic dynasties, such as Gupta House, Maurya House, Pallava House, Kakatiya House, Ganapathi House, Chalukya House and Moghul House," he said. "When I was there, we had just few houses, and I was in Gajapathi House," he proudly recalled. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
