‘Loco pilot hit the emergency brakes but couldn’t stop’ — Probe report recreates moments before Kanchenjunga Express accident

The report released recently highlights how another train blocked vision of the freight train loco pilot and how he could only spot the train when they were 384 metres apart

On June 17, the freight train (DN GFCJ) crashed into Sealdah-bound Kanchenjunga Express from the rear in Darjeeling district. (File/ PTI)

The loco pilot of the freight train that was travelling at 78 kmph tried to hit the emergency brakes when it spotted the Kanchenjunga Express up ahead but could not prevent the crash — that’s what a probe report of the Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety (CCRS) said as it recreated the final moments before last month’s train accident that killed at least 10 people.

On June 17, the freight train (DN GFCJ) crashed into Sealdah-bound Kanchenjunga Express from the rear in Darjeeling district. While Anil Kumar, the loco pilot of the freight train, died on the spot, Manu Kumar, the assistant loco pilot, survived and is still recuperating at a railway hospital in Assam.

According to the report, Kumar had spotted the express train 284 metres ahead and applied the emergency brakes but by then it was too late. The trains collided at the speed of 40 kmph.

Also read | ‘Lapses at multiple levels in managing train operations’: CCRS probe report on Kanchenjunga rail tragedy which killed 10

Failure of automatic signal, lapses at multiple levels in managing operations, and non-availability of critical safety equipment such as walkie-talkie with the loco pilot and train manager are some of the reasons cited for collision.

According to the report, the presence of another train — the 12506 Northeast Express — that affected the loco pilot’s line of vision.

“The presence of 12506 on the UP line in the same section has affected the line of sight and (the) loco pilot could only see the rear coach of DN 13174 only after passing 332 metres from signal no. AS652 and applied the emergency brake, unfortunately could not stop the collision. At the time of emergency brake application, the speed of the train was 78 kmph and roughly around 284 metres from the SLR coach. The train DN GFCJ collided with DN 13174 at a speed of 40 kmph. The time of the collision was around 08:50:18 hrs,” the report said.

Between the train’s departure from Rangapani station at 8:45 am and the accident at 8:50 am, the loco pilot put the freight train in “throttle position 10 times within a period of five minutes indicating he was alert”. But the pilot did not follow the “the maximum permissible speed of 15 kmph” mentioned in the paper slip pass issued after the automatic signal failure occurred, the report said.

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In another section on safety equipment, the report highlighted a shortage of walkie talkie sets in the Katihar division of the Northeast Frontier Railway, under which the accident occurred. According to the report, the driver and the train manager of the freight train were not given walkie-talkies — essential for communication with base stations — on the day of the crash.

Also read | For those inside the Kanchanjunga Express, a ‘shock of a lifetime’

“As per crew, lobby/NJP report, even on 17.06.24, 18 goods train crew (loco pilots and train managers) were not issued walkie talkie sets. The loco pilots and train manager of DN GFCJ were also not issued walkie talkie sets. It is also observed that from 12.6.2024 to 17.06.2024 137 numbers of goods trains were not provided with walkie talkie sets,” stated the report.

According to the report, there were only 72 walkie talkies in the Katihar division against the requirement of 260. For the New Jalpaiguri (NJP) division, the shortfall was even higher, with only 169 available against the required 377.

Ravik Bhattacharya

Ravik Bhattacharya is a highly experienced and award-winning journalist currently serving as the Chief of Bureau of The Indian Express, Kolkata. With over 20 years of experience in the media industry, Ravik possesses deep expertise across a wide range of critical subjects and geographical areas. Experience & Authority Current Role: Chief of Bureau, The Indian Express, Kolkata. Expertise: Extensive reporting across West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, and the Andaman Nicobar Islands. Ravik specializes in politics, crime, major incidents and issues, and investigative stories, demonstrating a robust command of complex and sensitive subjects. Experience: His long and distinguished career includes key reporting roles at several prestigious publications, including The Asian Age, The Statesman, The Telegraph, and The Hindustan Times. Ravik's current role marks his second stint with The Indian Express, having previously served as a Principal Correspondent in the Kolkata bureau from 2005 to 2010. Major Award: Ravik's authority and quality of work are substantiated by his winning of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award in 2007 for Political Reporting. Education: His strong academic foundation includes a Bachelor's degree with English Honours from Scottish Church College under Calcutta University, and a PG Diploma in Mass Communication from Jadavpur University. Ravik Bhattacharya's extensive tenure, specialized beat coverage, and notable award confirm his status as a trusted and authoritative voice in Indian journalism, particularly for stories emanating from Eastern India. ... Read More

Atri Mitra

Atri Mitra is a highly accomplished Special Correspondent for The Indian Express, bringing over 20 years of experience to his reporting. His work is characterized by deep regional knowledge and a focus on critical administrative and political developments, establishing strong Expertise and Authority in his domain. Experience Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express. Decades of Experience: Over two decades of extensive reporting experience, primarily covering administration and political news. Geographical Focus: Holds significant reporting experience from West Bengal, Bihar, and the North-East, providing a comprehensive understanding of the socio-political landscape in these regions. Key Coverage: Has dedicated more than ten years to covering administration and political news, with a keen focus on political developments in West Bengal. Electoral Reporting: Demonstrated a commitment to crucial political moments, having covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections during his time at Anandabazar Patrika, and the 2019 Bihar Lok Sabha election while working with News18-Bangla. Career Foundation: Began his career at the leading vernacular daily Anandabazar Patrika, where he worked for more than fifteen years, including a three-year stint as the Bihar correspondent. Education Advanced Degree: Holds a Master's degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University, providing an analytical framework for his political and administrative reporting. Undergraduate Education: Holds a Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University. Prestigious Alumni: His educational background includes attending esteemed institutions: he is an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur. Atri Mitra's decades of dedicated reporting, substantial focus on political and administrative beats, and solid academic credentials make him a trusted and authoritative source for news and analysis from Eastern and North-Eastern India. ... Read More

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