The tragic train collision in Andhra Pradesh, India, which resulted in 14 fatalities last year on October 29, was primarily attributed to a cricket match distraction.
Indian Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw disclosed on Saturday that the devastating incident involving two passenger trains on the Howrah-Chennai line in Vizianagaram district’s Kantakapalli was partly due to the driver and assistant driver watching a cricket match on their mobile device.
The collision led to the derailment of three carriages from a stationary train, causing at least 14 deaths and approximately 50 injuries, as reported by Wion.
In light of this, Vaishnaw announced that Indian Railways are implementing new safety measures. A notable initiative includes installing systems designed to detect and prevent distractions among locomotive pilots and co-pilots, ensuring their full attention remains on operating the train.
The decision came after it was revealed that the loco pilot and assistant were preoccupied with a cricket match at the time of the accident, as he informed the Press Trust of India.
