The accident caused three carriages to derail, prompting a massive response from emergency services.
The tragic train accident in Andhra Pradesh, India, which claimed 14 lives in October, was blamed on train drivers being distracted by a cricket match on their phones, according to India's Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
The drivers were reportedly engrossed in the one-day World Cup match between India and England when the accident occurred. The collision, resulting from a missed signal, left dozens injured when the passenger train traveling between Visakhapatnam and Palasa collided with another train.
Vaishnaw expressed concern about the distraction and announced plans for new security measures to detect and prevent such incidents in the future.
In a statement, he revealed: “Both the pilot and co-pilot were distracted by the cricket match.” The accident caused three carriages to derail, prompting a massive response from emergency services including ambulances, doctors, nurses and rescue personnel.
While a preliminary investigation immediately after the incident held the train driver and assistant driver responsible, the official report by the Railway Safety Commissioners is yet to be released, the Times of India reported.
Minister Vaishnaw highlighted the importance of enhancing safety measures to ensure full attention of train pilots and assistant pilots during operations.
India, which has one of the largest railway networks in the world with millions of passengers daily, has witnessed several railway disasters over the years.
The train accident in Andhra Pradesh marked the third major incident since June last year, following a collision of three trains in Odisha that claimed approximately 300 lives.
If we reflect on India's railway history, the worst disaster occurred in 1981, when a derailment in Bihar caused almost 800 deaths.
In a recent development, Indian Railways launched an investigation after a freight train traveled more than 70 kilometers without a driver. Social media footage captured the 53-car train speeding through stations before being stopped in Punjab by a railway official who used wooden blocks on the tracks.
Authorities are examining the circumstances surrounding this incident to ensure the safety and integrity of the rail system.
