CRS Probe Blames Human Error in Bilaspur Crash, Says Unfit Loco Pilot Was Kept on Duty
The safety regulator attributes the collision to a signal passed at danger verified by black-box data, with lax vetting leaving an aptitude-test-failed driver at the controls.
Overview
- The provisional report to the Railway Board rules out failures in signalling, track or overhead equipment and identifies an Error in Train Working as the cause.
- Black-box data show the MEMU passed a red signal at about 71 km/h with no emergency brake applied before hitting a stationary goods train, leaving 12 dead and 19 injured.
- The pilot failed a mandatory aptitude test on June 9 and previously scored poorly on safety knowledge, yet received a competency certificate and was deployed on MEMU duty.
- Investigators note the pilot sought routine guidance by phone during the run and the assistant reported slow reactions and weak rule knowledge, prompting calls for tighter supervision, training and phone-use limits.
- Recommendations include enforcing pass-to-deploy rules, addressing a shortfall of aptitude-cleared drivers and fitting MEMUs with automatic warning and braking systems; Indian Railways had not commented at publication.