Indian authorities are investigating a signal failure as a potential cause of one of the deadliest train accidents in India’s history. The collision in Odisha state resulted in a death toll of at least 275 people, with over 1,000 individuals sustaining injuries. Efforts are now underway to resume rail services, while families of the deceased face challenges in claiming the remains of their loved ones. The crash site remains scattered with personal belongings and overturned train cars, painting a grim picture of the disaster. Local residents, including Deepak Behera, bravely assisted in the rescue operation, using mobile phone flashlights to locate survivors among the wreckage. However, the identification of victims has proven challenging, leading to revisions in the official death toll. This tragic event has reignited concerns about the safety of India’s railway system, which carries a staggering daily passenger load of over 13 million people.

The Minister of Railways has attributed the accident to a change in electronic interlocking and has assured that those responsible will be held accountable. The collision involved the Coromandel Express, which had been diverted onto a loop line and collided with a stationary goods train before being struck by the oncoming Howrah Express. The high speeds at which these trains were traveling exacerbated the impact and resulted in a significant number of casualties. Efforts are currently focused on clearing the wreckage and repairing the tracks to restore normal rail operations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed his commitment to holding the responsible parties accountable for the tragedy, highlighting the urgent need to address safety concerns and modernize India’s aging railway infrastructure, which dates back over 160 years.