Lok Sabha Question No. 2378 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-08-01
Subject: Fire Incident
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: T.G. VENKATESH BABU

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2378 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.08.2018

## FIRE INCIDENT

## 2378.  SHRI VENKATESH BABU T.G.:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Railways is aware of the recent incident of fire in the Visakhapatnam bound AP AC superfast express train at Gwalior;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  reasons  for  the incident and the number of persons killed/injured;
- (c) whether any probe has been ordered in this regard;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the action taken to prevent the recurrence of such incidents; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## 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. *****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2378 BY SHRI VENKATESH BABU T.G. TO BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  01.08.2018  REGARDING  FIRE INCIDENT

(a): Yes, Madam.

- (b)  to  (d):  On  21.05.2018, at around 11.58 hrs, train no. 22416 (AC AP Express) met with a fire accident at Birlanagar Station of Agra-Jhansi section of Jhansi division in North Central Railway. No passenger was killed or injured in this accident.

Departmental  Inquiry  was  conducted  by  a  committee  of  Senior Railway Officers. The committee has concluded that the fire accident occurred due to inadvertent throwing of cigarette butt or match stick by  some  passenger  using  the  toilet.  The  following  steps  are  being taken to reduce incidents of fire in coaches:-

-  It  is  a  continual  endeavour  of  Indian  Railways  to  improve  fire retardancy in coaches by providing fire retardant furnishing materials  in  coaches.  A  parameter  called  Heat  Release  Rate  has been  added  in  the  material  specification  of  all  major  interior furnishing  materials  as  per  latest  European  norms,  in  order  to improve fire safety in coaches.
-  Instructions have been issued to Production Units for provision of following in all newly manufactured coaches:
- i. Fire detection and suppression system in all newly manufactured Power cars and Pantry Cars.

- ii. Fire and Smoke detection system in all newly manufactured Air Conditioned (AC) coaches.
- iii. Fire  Extinguishers  in  all  newly  manufactured  non-AC coaches (in addition to AC coaches).
3.  Steps have been taken to improve fire safety features in existing coaches also. In this  direction,  instructions  were  issued  to  Zonal Railways to provide fire and smoke detection system, fire detection and suppression system and Fire Extinguishers in non-AC coaches on identified class of coaches progressively.
4.  On-board  ticket  checking  staff  were  instructed  to  ensure  that whenever inflammable and dangerous/prohibited goods are detected, intimation about the same is given to the station staff for necessary action.
5.  Improved materials for electrical fittings and fixtures such as MCB (Miniature Circuit Breaker), light fittings, terminal boards, connectors etc., are being used progressively.
6.  Railways are providing 3 tier and 4 tier electrical fuse protection system in train lighting and air-conditioned coaches respectively.
7.  Intensive publicity campaigns to prevent the travelling public from carrying inflammable goods are regularly undertaken.
8.  Frequent drives against carrying of inflammable/dangerous articles in trains as well as station premises are undertaken.
9. (e): Does not arise.

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