Loco pilot watching cricket caused Rayagada passenger train accident at Kantakapalli

NEW DELHI: Union Railway Minister Ashwani Vaishnaw disclosed on Sunday that the tragic train collision at Kantakapalli Junction in Vizianagaram district last year was caused by the loco pilot and assistant loco pilot who were distracted while driving and watching cricket on their cell phones.

The collision occurred on October 29, 2023, when Rayagada passenger train, which had stopped for a signal, was struck from behind by a Visakhapatnam-Palasa passenger train. This accident resulted in the loss of 14 lives and injuries to approximately 50 persons.

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Minister Vaishnav highlighted this incident while discussing new security measures being implemented in the railway department. He stated that the loco-pilots' distraction due to watching cricket on their phones while operating the train led to the tragic collision and emphasised that to prevent such incidents in the future, a system had been introduced to monitor the behavior of pilots continuously, while they were on duty.

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He said that a committee was formed to investigate into the incident and stated that action was taken against the loco pilot and assistant loco pilot of the Rayagada passenger train responsible for causing the collision prior to the release of the report.