SCR Records 21 Train Accidents on Non-Kavach Sections in 10 Years

South Central Railway recorded 21 consequential train accidents on rail sections operating without the Kavach automatic train protection system between 2016-17 and 2025-26, with Secunderabad division accounting for the highest share of incidents, according to official records.

The figures were disclosed by the SCR Safety Branch in response to an application filed under the Right to Information Act by Robin Zaccheus on August 24. The railway provided the official data on September 1, 2026.

Among the six divisions falling under SCR jurisdiction, Secunderabad reported the highest number of consequential train accidents on non-Kavach sections, logging nine incidents over the 10-year span. Hyderabad division recorded the second-highest tally with five accidents, followed by Vijayawada division with four, Guntakal division with two, and Guntur division with one. Nanded division did not record any consequential train accidents on sections lacking Kavach during the decade.

The RTI response highlighted significant year-on-year variations across the railway zone. In 2016-17, SCR recorded one accident on sections without the protection system, followed by three in 2017-18 and two in 2018-19. The annual count peaked in 2019-20 with six accidents, representing the highest annual total during the decade.

The six accidents in 2019-20 were distributed across four divisions, with Secunderabad and Guntakal recording two each, while Hyderabad and Vijayawada reported one each.

Following that peak, the number dropped to one accident in 2020-21, while no consequential accidents were reported on non-Kavach tracks in 2021-22. Incidents rose again to three in 2022-23, followed by two accidents each in 2023-24 and 2024-25, and one in 2025-26.

For the ongoing 2026-27 financial year, the railway stated that zero consequential train accidents have been reported so far on sections without Kavach up to the date of the response.