The probe into signal failure in the Ambattur-Avadi section exposes violation of safety rules
An investigation into a near-miss train incident in Chennai revealed systemic safety failures, including a signal that malfunctioned 53 times in one month. The inquiry found that staff repeatedly reset the system without performing a root-cause analysis, leading to dangerous operational lapses.
Why it matters
The report highlights critical safety management failures in public infrastructure that could have resulted in a major disaster, raising concerns about railway maintenance protocols.
An investigation into a signal failure that allowed an Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) to enter a line occupied by two other trains in Southern Railway’s Chennai Division has exposed serious lapses in compliance with safety protocols.
Documents accessed by The Hindu revealed that the automatic signal, S192, in the Ambattur-Avadi section malfunctioned over 50 times in February 2026 alone. A buzzer installed in the Ambattur Station Master’s office to alert the staff to signal failures was found to have been “disconnected”. The defective signal was repeatedly reset by field technical workers without analysing the root cause of the malfunction. This allowed the problem to recur over several months.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in