Human error and signal glitch, the causes behind the Kanchenjunga express crash

• The crash occurred due to a mistaken signal directing the Coromandel Express onto a loop line
• A combination of human error and a possible signal glitch is suspected
• The collision resulted in over 275 fatalities and more than a thousand injuries

The tragic crash of the Kanchenjunga Express has been attributed to a combination of human error and a possible signal glitch. On June 2, 2023, the Coromandel Express collided with a stationary goods train near Balasore, Odisha, resulting in a catastrophic accident that claimed at least 275 lives and injured over a thousand people.

Investigations revealed that the Coromandel Express was mistakenly directed onto a loop line instead of the main line due to an erroneous signal. This misrouting caused the express train, traveling at high speed, to crash into a parked goods train on the loop line. The impact was severe, leading to multiple carriages derailing and some falling onto an adjacent track, where another train, the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, subsequently collided with the derailed coaches. 

Initial reports indicate that a signal malfunction played a critical role. The signal appeared green for the main line, but the track was still set for the loop line. This discrepancy might have stemmed from a shortcut taken during signal repair work, where proper protocols were bypassed, leading to a serious communication error in the signaling system Additionally, human oversight contributed significantly, as the station manager missed a crucial red light indicator on the panel that could have prevented the accident