Lok Sabha Question No. 2572 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-01-03
Subject: Train Accidents/Derailments
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: JANARDAN MISHRA, BAIJAYANT "JAY" PANDA, KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH, VIJAY KUMAR HANSDAK, Kunhalikutty, P.K., P.K.SREEMATHI TEACHER, P. C. MOHAN, MIDHUN REDDY, ANIRUDHAN SAMPATH, MEENAKASHI LEKHI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2572

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.01.2018

## TRAIN ACCIDENTS/DERAILMENTS

## †2572.  SHRI JANARDAN MISHRA:

SHRI BAIJAYANT JAY PANDA:

SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH:

SHRI VIJAY KUMAR HANSDAK:

SHRI P. K. KUNHALIKUTTY:

SHRIMATI P. K. SREEMATHI TEACHER:

SHRI P.C. MOHAN:

SHRI P.V. MIDHUN REDDY:

DR. A. SAMPATH:

SHRIMATI MEENAKASHI LEKHI:

## Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  total  number  of  train  accidents  due  to  derailment,  poor signalling,  unmanned  level  crossing,  etc.  that  took  place during the last three years and the current year, cause, year and zone-wise separately;
- (b) the number of passengers/persons killed and injured in these accidents, accident and year-wise;
- (c) the  total  amount  of  compensation  paid  to  the  legal  heirs  of the deceased/victims of these train accidents and the cases of compensation pending with the Railways/Tribunal at present, accident and year-wise;
- (d) the steps taken to settle the pending cases of compensation along with the out come thereof;
- (e) whether it is a fact that the funds earmarked for repair/renovation of various works have not been sanctioned and released by the Railways and if so, the reasons therefor; and

(f) the total number of integral coach factory coaches converted to Linke Hofmann Busch coaches since 2012-13 to strengthen the passenger safety?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a) to  (f):  A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (f)  OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  2572  BY  SHRI  JANARDAN  MISHRA, SHRI BAIJAYANT JAY PANDA,  SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH, SHRI VIJAY KUMAR HANSDAK, SHRI P. K. KUNHALIKUTTY,  SHRIMATI P. K.  SREEMATHI  TEACHER,  SHRI  P.C.  MOHAN,  SHRI  P.V.  MIDHUN REDDY,  DR.  A.  SAMPATH  AND  SHRIMATI  MEENAKASHI  LEKHI  TO BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  03.01.2018  REGARDING  TRAIN ACCIDENTS/DERAILMENTS

(a):    Zone-wise, year-wise and type-wise details of total number of consequential train accidents during the last three years, i.e. 201415,  2015-16  and  2016-17  and  in  the  current  year  (from  1 st   April  to 15 th  December, 2017) are appended as Appendix-I:

Cause-wise break up of the consequential train accidents, which took place during the last three years, 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17 and in the current year (from 1 st  April to 15 th  December, 2017) is given below:

2017-18

| Broad Causes                        |   2014- 15 |   2015-16 |   2016-17 | 2017-18 (upto 15/12/17)   |
|-------------------------------------|------------|-----------|-----------|---------------------------|
| Failure of Railway staff            |         60 |        55 |        64 | 31                        |
| Failure of other than Railway staff |         58 |        38 |        22 | 14                        |
| Failure of equipment                |         04 |        02 |        02 | -                         |
| Sabotage                            |         03 |        01 |        02 | 01                        |
| Combination of factors              |         00 |        01 |        03 | 01                        |
| Incidental                          |         08 |        09 |        07 | 04                        |

| Could not established/ Non Held   |   02 |   01 |   00 |   - |
|-----------------------------------|------|------|------|-----|
| Grand Total                       |  135 |  107 |  104 |  52 |

Note:  Information  is  based  on  findings  as  contained  in  accident inquiry reports and/or is available as 'prima facie' cause.

(b): Year-wise and type-wise details of number of persons killed/injured in consequential train accidents during the last three years,  i.e.  2014-15,  2015-16  and  2016-17  and  in  the  current  year (from 1 st  April to 15 th  December, 2017) are given as under:

| Type of Accident   | 2014-15              | 2014-15              | 2015-16              | 2015-16              | 2016-17              | 2016-17              | 2017-18 (up to 15/12/2017)   | 2017-18 (up to 15/12/2017)   |
|--------------------|----------------------|----------------------|----------------------|----------------------|----------------------|----------------------|------------------------------|------------------------------|
|                    | Total No. of persons | Total No. of persons | Total No. of persons | Total No. of persons | Total No. of persons | Total No. of persons | Total No. of persons         | Total No. of persons         |
|                    | Killed               | Injured              | Killed               | Injured              | Killed               | Injured              | Killed                       | Injured                      |
| Collision          | 15                   | 58                   | 01                   | 12                   | 05                   | 28                   | 0                            | 0                            |
| Derailment         | 104                  | 265                  | 36                   | 100                  | 193                  | 322                  | 27                           | 175                          |
| MLC Accident       | 31                   | 21                   | 12                   | 10                   | 0                    | 0                    | 1                            | 8                            |
| UMLC Accident      | 130                  | 85                   | 58                   | 41                   | 40                   | 19                   | 25                           | 5                            |
| Fire               | 0                    | 0                    | 0                    | 0                    | 0                    | 0                    | 0                            | 0                            |

| Miscellan- eous   | 12   | 28   | 15   | 25   | 0   | 0   | 0   | 0   |
|-------------------|------|------|------|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|
| accident          |      |      |      |      |     |     |     |     |
| Grand Total       | 292  | 457  | 122  | 188  | 238 | 369 | 53  | 188 |

(c): The amount of compensation paid in train accidents during the past 3 years is as follows:

| Year    |   Amount Paid (in Lakhs of ₹ ) |
|---------|--------------------------------|
| 2014-15 |                         127.48 |
| 2015-16 |                         262.96 |
| 2016-17 |                         303.17 |

Note:- The compensation paid in a year need not necessarily relate to the accidents/casualties in that year alone. This amount depends upon  the  number  of  cases  which  are  finalized  in  a  particular  year irrespective  of  the  year(s)  in  which  the  accident  they  pertain  to, have occurred.

Total number of pending cases of compensation claim relating to  train  accidents  is  419  till  15.12.2017.  Zone-wise  statement  of pending  claim  cases  is  appended  as  Appendix-II.  Compensation  is paid by Railways on the basis of decree awarded by Railway Claims Tribunal (RCT) after adjudication of the claim application filed before them. RCT is a quasi judicial body, independent from Railways which cannot be interfered with.

(d): The  details  of  the  measures  taken  for  speedy  settlement  of claims cases are appended as Appendix-III.

(e): No,  Madam.  The  funds  sanctioned  for  repair/renovation  of various works were released and spent as per requirement.

(f): Integral Coach Factory (ICF) type coaches can't be converted to  Linke  Hofmann  Busch  (LHB)  coaches  since  they  are  different technologies. However, since 2012-13 following LHB coaches have been produced year wise by Production Units of Indian Railways(IR):

| Year                     | Total Numbers            |
|--------------------------|--------------------------|
| 2012-13                  | 560                      |
| 2013-14                  | 543                      |
| 2014-15                  | 555                      |
| 2015-16                  | 1044                     |
| 2016-17                  | 1469                     |
| 2017-18 (Nov, 2017) 1347 | 2017-18 (Nov, 2017) 1347 |

The  produced  coaches  are  given  to  traffic  to  either  run  new services or to replace existing ICF type coaches.

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APPENDIX-I REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2572 BY SHRI JANARDAN MISHRA, SHRI BAIJAYANT JAY PANDA,  SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH, SHRI VIJAY KUMAR  HANSDAK,  SHRI  P.  K.  KUNHALIKUTTY,    SHRIMATI  P.  K. SREEMATHI  TEACHER,  SHRI  P.C.  MOHAN,  SHRI  P.V.  MIDHUN REDDY,  DR.  A.  SAMPATH  AND  SHRIMATI  MEENAKASHI  LEKHI  TO BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  03.01.2018  REGARDING  TRAIN ACCIDENTS/DERAILMENTS

(a):  Zone-wise  number  of  consequential  train  accidents  over Indian  Railways    are  given  below.    These  include  collisions, derailments, accidents at manned level crossings gates, accidents at unmanned  level crossings, fire in trains and miscellaneous accidents.

| Zonal Railways     | 2014-   | 2015-   | 2016-   | 2017-18           |
|--------------------|---------|---------|---------|-------------------|
| Central            | 15 10   | 16 7    | 17 7    | 15 th December, 7 |
| Eastern            | 4       | 4       | 7       | 2017) 1           |
| East Central       | 19      | 12      | 17      | 5                 |
| East Coast         | 8       | 2       | 7       | 2                 |
| Konkan             | 4       | 1       | 1       | 1                 |
| North Central      | 7       | 4       | 7       | 4                 |
| North Eastern      | 14      | 9       | 3       | 4                 |
| Northeast          | 4       | 4       | 8       | 1                 |
| Frontier           |         |         |         |                   |
| North Western      | 11      | 11      | 4       | 4                 |
| Northern           | 20      | 20      | 14      | 12                |
| South Central      | 4       | 2       | 1       | 2                 |
| South Eastern      | 6       | 4       | 2       | 2                 |
| South East Central | 1       | 3       | 5       | 0                 |
| South Western      | 11      | 8       | 3       | 1                 |

| Southern      |   2 |   6 |   8 |   3 |
|---------------|-----|-----|-----|-----|
| West Central  |   3 |   2 |   2 |   0 |
| Western       |   7 |   8 |   8 |   3 |
| Metro Kolkata |   0 |   0 |   0 |   0 |
| Total         | 135 | 107 | 104 |  52 |

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APPENDIX-II REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (c) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2572 BY SHRI JANARDAN MISHRA, SHRI BAIJAYANT JAY PANDA,  SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH, SHRI VIJAY KUMAR  HANSDAK,  SHRI  P.  K.  KUNHALIKUTTY,    SHRIMATI  P.  K. SREEMATHI  TEACHER,  SHRI  P.C.  MOHAN,  SHRI  P.V.  MIDHUN REDDY,  DR.  A.  SAMPATH  AND  SHRIMATI  MEENAKASHI  LEKHI  TO BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  03.01.2018  REGARDING  TRAIN ACCIDENTS/DERAILMENTS

(c)  CUMULATIVE  POSITION  OF  NUMBER  OF  PENDING  CASES  OF COMPENSATION  INVOLVING  TRAIN  ACCIDENTS  ON  ALL  INDIAN RAILWAYS UNDER SECTION 124 AS ON 15.12.2017.

| ZONAL RAILWAY      | NUMBER OF CASES   | NUMBER OF CASES   | NUMBER OF CASES   | NUMBER OF CASES   |
|--------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
|                    | Death             | Injured           | Loss of Property  | Missing Passenger |
| Central            | 6                 | 4                 | 0                 | 1                 |
| East Central       | 10                | 10                | 0                 | 0                 |
| East Coast         | 0                 | 5                 | 0                 | 0                 |
| Eastern            | 14                | 35                | 0                 | 0                 |
| North Central      | 38                | 23                | 0                 | 0                 |
| North Eastern      | 18                | 19                | 0                 | 0                 |
| Northeast Frontier | 0                 | 3                 | 0                 | 0                 |
| Northern           | 56                | 49                | 0                 | 0                 |
| North Western      | 0                 | 0                 | 0                 | 0                 |
| Railway Board      | 0                 | 0                 | 0                 | 0                 |
| South Central      | 3                 | 1                 | 0                 | 0                 |
| South Eastern      | 39                | 22                | 0                 | 1                 |
| South East Central | 0                 | 0                 | 0                 | 0                 |
| Southern           | 0                 | 7                 | 0                 | 0                 |

| South Western   |   28 |   25 |   0 |   0 |
|-----------------|------|------|-----|-----|
| West Central    |    0 |    0 |   0 |   0 |
| Western         |    2 |    2 |   0 |   0 |
| Total           |  214 |  205 |   0 |   2 |

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APPENDIX-III REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (d) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2572 BY SHRI JANARDAN MISHRA, SHRI BAIJAYANT JAY PANDA,  SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH, SHRI VIJAY KUMAR  HANSDAK,  SHRI  P.  K.  KUNHALIKUTTY,    SHRIMATI  P.  K. SREEMATHI  TEACHER,  SHRI  P.C.  MOHAN,  SHRI  P.V.  MIDHUN REDDY,  DR.  A.  SAMPATH  AND  SHRIMATI  MEENAKASHI  LEKHI  TO BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  03.01.2018  REGARDING  TRAIN ACCIDENTS/DERAILMENTS

(d) :  STEPS FOR SPEEDY SETTLEMENT OF COMPENSATION CLAIMS

1.  Instructions have been issued to all Zonal Railways that as soon as a passenger train accident or untoward incident takes place, all  particulars  of  injured  and  killed  may  be  obtained,  claim application forms sent to claimants, and the record should also be made available to the concerned bench of the Railway Claims Tribunal.
2.  When claims are filed and put up for hearing, the railways should give all possible assistance to the Tribunal for speedy settlement.
3.  Written statements are to be filed by the railways in such cases within 15 days of receipt of notice from RCT.
4.  After  the  decretal  amount  of  a  claim  has  been  sanctioned, railways have to ensure that cheques are issued and dispatched within a period of 15 days.
5.  Prior finance concurrence in respect of the accident compensation claims case have been dispensed with.
6.  The Chief Claims Officers have been empowered to satisfy the decree accident compensation claims upto ₹ 8 lakh.
7.  Applicant  can  file  claim  at  the  Railway  Claims  Tribunal  Bench having jurisdiction over the place of residence of the applicant or the place where the passenger purchases his ticket or where the accident  or  untoward  incident  occurs  or  where  the  place  of destination station lies, as against only at the place of occurrence of accident earlier.
8.  Holding  Circuit  Benches  at  RCT  Benches  where  pendency  of cases is high. Now, Circuit Benches are also held at the place of accident.
9.  Zonal  Railways  have  been  directed  to  fill  up  the  vacancies  of Officers/Staff in RCT Benches urgently whenever such vacancies arise.
10.  Maximum  of  three  adjournments  for  each  case  permitted  for claim applications filed before Railway Claims Tribunal.
11.  Railway  Claims  Tribunal  to  pass  final  orders  within  21  days  of final hearing of the case filed before it.
12.  One  copy  of  order  of  Railway  Claims  Tribunal  for  accident compensation claims to be supplied free of cost to the applicant within 3 days of the passing of final orders.
13.  Relevant  Rules  &  Procedures  in  connection  with  compensation claims  in  respect  of  'Accident'  have  been  incorporated  in  the Indian Railways' Web-site i.e. www.indianrailways.gov.in. It also contains format of different application forms which are needed for filing compensation claims.

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