Lok Sabha Question No. 316 (STARRED), answered on 2016-12-07
Subject: Derailment of Indore-Patna Express
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: RAM CHARITRA, GAJANAN CHANDRAKANT KIRTIKAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO.316 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.12.2016

## DERAILMENT OF INDORE-PATNA EXPRESS

- *316.  SHRI RAM CHARITRA NISHAD: SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether Indore-Patna Express was derailed recently and if so, the reasons therefor;
- (b) the  number  of  people  injured/died  in  this  accident  and  the amount of compensation paid, if any;
- (c) whether  any  investigation  has  been  initiated/conducted  in regard to the said accident;
- (d) if so, the details and outcome thereof; and
- (e) the steps taken/being taken by the Railways to avoid such rail accidents in future?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI SURESH PRABHAKAR PRABHU)

- (a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF STARRED QUESTION  NO.316 BY SHRI  RAM  CHARITRA NISHAD AND SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 07.12.2016 REGARDING DERAILMENT OF INDORE-PATNA EXPRESS

(a):  Yes,  Madam.  14  coaches  of  Train  No.19321  Indore-Rajendra  Nagar Terminal  (Patna  Express)  derailed  between  Pokhrayan  and  Malasa stations on Jhansi-Kanpur section of North-Central Railway on 2011-2016. Cause of the accident is being enquired into by Commissioner of Railway Safety, Eastern Circle, Kolkata.

(b): Till  01.12.2016,  151  passengers  lost  their  lives,  56  passengers sustained  grievous  injury  and  128  passengers  sustained  simple  injury. Compensation is paid by the Railway on receipt of a decree for  award of compensation.    However,  on  humanitarian  grounds,  an  enhanced  exgratia  amount  of ` 3.5  lakh    each  to    next  of    kin  of  the  deceased passengers, ` 50 thousand to the passengers  who  sustained grievous injury  and ` 25  thousand  to  the  passengers  who  sustained  simple injuries  has been paid.  Hon'ble Prime Minister has also announced an additional ex-gratia payment of ` 2 lakh to the kin of deceased and ` 50 thousand for each of the seriously injured passengers. In addition,  several  passengers  who  have  opted  for  the  Optional  Travel Insurance facility initiated from September, 2016 will also be eligible for additional compensation ( ` 10 lakh for death/total disability, ` 7.5 lakh for partial and permanent disability).

(c)  &  (d):      Statutory  inquiry  into  the  derailment  of  Train  No.19321, Indore-Rajendra Nagar (Patna Express) has been ordered to be conducted by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS), Eastern Circle, Kolkata under the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

(e): Safety is accorded the highest priority by Indian Railways and all possible steps are undertaken on a continual basis to prevent accidents and to enhance safety.  These include timely replacement of over-aged assets, adoption of suitable technologies for upgradation and maintenance of track, rolling stock, signalling and interlocking systems, safety drives, greater emphasis on training of officials and inspections at regular  intervals  to  monitor  and  educate  staff  for  observance  of  safe practices.    Safety  devices/systems  being  used  to  prevent  accidents include  complete  track  circuiting,  provision  of  Block  Proving  Axle Counters  (BPAC),  Auxiliary  Warning  System  (AWS),  Colour  Light  LED Signals,  Vigilance  Control  Device  (VCD),  usage  of  60kg  rails  and  Prestressed Concrete Sleepers, long rail panels, better welding technology, progressive use of Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) Coaches, Centre Buffer Couplers with Integral Coach Factory (ICF) Coaches, etc.

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