CITU blames Central govt for Kantakapalli train collision

The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) has alleged that the main cause of train accidents are mainly due to the negligence of the Central Government and attributed faults in automatic signals for the recent accident at Kantakapalli on the Kothavalasa railway line in Vizianagaram district near here.

CITU leaders, quoting experts, say that the main reason for this accident was negligence. In this accident, fourteen people died on the spot including two loco pilots and a guard. Another 30 people were seriously injured. It is unfair on the part of the railway authorities to leave the original fault behind and make other excuses. Before this, 296 people lost their lives in a terrible railway accident at Balasore in the state of Orissa. More than 500 people were seriously injured. In Visakha Division itself, three major accidents have occurred in the last decade, CITU all India president K Hemalata, State general secretary Ch Narsinga Rao and State committee secretary RKSV Kumar said.

They told the media that the Central Government policies are the main reason for these accidents. But the government is holding the workers responsible, to divert its attention from its faulty policies without revealing the actual causes of the accidents. Neglect of safety, contractualisation, lack of training for driving loco trains, the pressure on loco drivers to work for long extended hours are the main causes of accidents.

“BJP government at the Centre is trying hard for technological advancement in the railways and handing it over to big private corporates.Railways have failed miserably in taking safety precautions. As a result, even though it was said that increased mechanization will prevent accidents, in reality, accidents are increasing after mechanisation, CITU said.