No 'Kavach' Safety System On Odisha Route Where Train Collision Occurred

The train collision in Balasore last night, which resulted in the loss of over 230 lives and left approximately 900 injured, occurred on a stretch of railway tracks where the preventive safety system developed by the Indian Railways was not installed. The absence of the 'Kavach' system, designed to mitigate train accidents caused by driver errors and other factors, has raised concerns regarding the effectiveness of safety measures on the route.

The national transporter has said anti-train collision system 'Kavach' was not available on the route. The railways is in the process of installing 'Kavach', an anti-train collision system, across its network.

Kavach alerts when a loco pilot jumps a signal (Signal Passed at Danger -- SPAD), which is the leading cause of train collisions. The system can alert the loco pilot, take control of the brakes and bring the train to a halt automatically when it notices another train on the same line within a prescribed distance.

In February, close on the heels of a head-on collision between two goods trains in Uttar Pradesh, the railways launched a month-long safety drive to prevent accidents such as derailment and overshooting of signals by loco pilots.

Under the drive, senior officers from the Railway Board, zonal railways and divisions were instructed to visit various sections, lobbies of crews, maintenance centres, work sites etc. and carry out a ''thorough review of the working practices'' to check and enforce safe operational and maintenance practices prescribed to prevent accidents or unusual incidents.

What Is KAVACH Technology?

KAVACH (Kiosk for Awareness, Vigilance, and Care at Stations using Harmonized technology) is a technological initiative implemented by the Indian Railways to enhance passenger safety and security at railway stations. It involves the deployment of modern surveillance systems and advanced technologies to create a robust security framework.

The KAVACH technology comprises various components such as high-definition CCTV cameras, facial recognition systems, video analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI). These systems are integrated to monitor and analyze activities at railway stations in real-time.

The objective of KAVACH is to improve incident detection, prevention, and response capabilities. The surveillance cameras are strategically positioned across platforms, waiting areas, ticketing zones, and other critical locations within the railway station premises. They continuously capture video footage, which is analyzed using AI algorithms to detect suspicious activities, identify potential threats, and raise alerts to concerned authorities.

The facial recognition system integrated with KAVACH enables the identification and tracking of individuals on watchlists or with criminal records. This helps in apprehending wanted persons and preventing potential security breaches.

KAVACH also incorporates intelligent video analytics to analyze passenger movements, crowd behavior, and identify patterns that may indicate security risks or emergency situations. This allows authorities to proactively address safety concerns and take necessary preventive measures.