Lok Sabha Question No. 4481 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-29
Subject: Hirakund Express Train Accident
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: RENUKA BUTTA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4481 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.03.2017

## HIRAKUND EXPRESS TRAIN ACCIDENT

## 4481. SHRIMATI  BUTTA  RENUKA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the train accident of Hirakund  express is on account of sabotage or because of mechanical or technical fault and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the  number of casualties in the accident;
- (c) the  amount  of  compensation  proposed  to  be  paid  to  the victims' families and the injured;
- (d) whether  any  concrete  steps  are  being  taken  to  avoid  such accidents in future and if so, the  details thereof; and
- (e) the action taken  against those responsible for the accidents?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

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

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4481  BY SHRIMATI BUTTA RENUKA  TO BE  ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 29.03.2017 REGARDING HIRAKUND EXPRESS TRAIN ACCIDENT

(a):  In  the  derailment  of  Train  No.  18448  Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Express near Kuneru station on Singapuram RoadVizianagaram Section of East Coast Railway on 21.01.2017, Government Railway Police(GRP)/Vizianagaram has registered  a case vide No.06/2017 u/s 174 Cr.P.C. dated 22.01.2017 which was transferred to CID/Andhra Pradesh where a case vide No.CID/17/1306 dated  07.02.2017  has  been  registered.  Investigation  of  the  case  has now  been  taken  up  by  National  Investigation  Agency  (NIA)    and statutory inquiry into the said derailment has  been  ordered to determine the  causes and  responsible factors of the  accident to  be conducted  by  the  Commissioner  of    Railway  Safety  (CRS),  South Central Circle, Secunderabad  under the Ministry of Civil Aviation. (b): 40 persons lost their lives, 17 sustained  grievous  injuries and 21 sustained simple  injuries (c):  An  amount  of ` 08 lakh for death and ` 64,000/-  to ` 08  lakh  for injury depending upon the gravity of injury is paid by the Railways as per  decree  of  Railway  Claims  Tribunal.    However,  on  humanitarian grounds, an  ex-gratia amount of 02 lakh  to  the next of kin of each

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deceased and ` 50,000/- to each of the persons who sustained grievous injuries and ` 25,000/- to each of the persons who  sustained simple injuries  has  been  paid    in  the  said    train  accident.  Hon'ble  Prime Minister also announced ex-gratia relief of ` 02 lakh to the next kin of each deceased and ` 50,000/-  to  each  of  the  persons  who  sustained grievous injury in the accident. (d): Safety is accorded the highest priority by Indian Railways  and all possible  steps  are  undertaken  on  a  continual  basis  including  upgradation  of  technology  to  aid  safe  running  of  trains.  These  include replacement  of  over-aged  assets,  elimination  of  unmanned  level crossings,  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 used to prevent accidents include complete track circuiting, provision of Block Proving Axle  Counters  (BPAC),  Train  Protection  Warning  Systems  (TPWS), Colour  Light  LED  Signals,  Vigilance  Control  Device  (VCD),  usage  of 60 kg rails and Pre-stressed Concrete Sleepers, long rail panels, better welding  technology,  digital  types  of  machines  for  ultrasonic  flaw detection (USFD), electronic monitoring of tracks using track recording cars (TRC)  and  portable  oscillation  monitoring  system (OMS),  progressive  use  of  Linke  Hofmann  Busch  (LHB)  Coaches, Centre Buffer Coupler with Integral Coach Factory (ICF) Coaches, etc. Other  measures  include  training  of  loco  pilots  and  other  safety category  staff,  improvement  of  their  working  conditions  including proper rest and periodic medical examinations etc. Besides, periodic safety  drives,  inspections  as  per  laid  down  schedules,  patrolling  of tracks, footplate inspections and safety reviews at various levels are regularly  conducted  to  continuously  monitor  and  improve  safety aspects of the Railways.

(e): Action would be taken against those who are held responsible for the accident after finalization of statutory inquiry by the Commissioner of Railway Safety, South Central Circle, Secunderabad. *****