SCR recorded 21 train accidents on Kavach-less sections in 10 years

South Central Railway recorded 21 consequential train accidents on sections without the Kavach protection system between 2016-17 and 2025-26, RTI data showed. Secunderabad division reported the highest number, while no such accident has been reported so far in 2026-27

Hyderabad: The South Central Railway (SCR) recorded 21 consequential train accidents on sections without the Kavach automatic train protection system between 2016-17 and 2025-26, according to information furnished by the railway under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

The information was provided by the SCR Safety Branch on September 1, 2026, in response to an RTI application filed by Robin Zaccheus on August 24.

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The RTI data shows considerable year-on-year variation in the number of accidents on sections without Kavach.

SCR recorded one such accident in 2016-17, followed by three in 2017-18 and two in 2018-19. The figure climbed sharply to six accidents in 2019-20, the highest annual total during the 10-year period.

The number subsequently fell to one in 2020-21, while no consequential accident was reported in 2021-22. The figure rose again to three in 2022-23 and stood at two each in 2023-24 and 2024-25. One accident was recorded in 2025-26.

Overall, the six accidents in 2019-20 accounted for the highest annual share of the 21 accidents recorded during the decade.

Among SCR’s six divisions, Secunderabad recorded the highest number of consequential train accidents on sections without Kavach, with nine incidents.

Hyderabad division followed with five accidents, while Vijayawada recorded four. Guntakal reported two such accidents and Guntur one. Nanded division reported no consequential train accidents on sections without Kavach during the period.

The division-wise figures total 21, matching the overall number provided by SCR.

The six accidents recorded in 2019-20 were spread across four divisions. Secunderabad and Guntakal divisions recorded two accidents each, while Vijayawada and Hyderabad reported one accident each.

The next highest annual totals were recorded in 2017-18 and 2022-23, with three accidents each.

The RTI response also provides figures for the current financial year, 2026-27, up to the date of the response.

According to the railway, no consequential train accident has been reported so far on sections without Kavach during 2026-27.

The data covers all six SCR divisions — Secunderabad, Vijayawada, Guntakal, Nanded, Guntur and Hyderabad.

The figures provide a 10-year snapshot of consequential train accidents on sections without Kavach, even as the Railways continues to expand the deployment of the automatic train protection system across its network.