Lok Sabha Question No. 897 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-20
Subject: Derailment of Vasco Da Gama-Patna Express
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: S.P. MUDDAHANUMEGOWDA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 897 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.12.2017

## DERAILMENT OF VASCO DA GAMA -PATNA EXPRESS

897.  SHRI S.P. MUDDAHANUME GOWDA:

Will the Minister of  RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether Vasco Da Gama-Patna Express 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 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.  897  BY  SHRI  S.P.  MUDDAHANUME GOWDA TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 20.12.2017 REGARDING DERAILMENT OF VASCO DA GAMA-PATNA EXPRESS (a):  Yes,  Madam.  14  coaches  of    Train  No.12741  Down  Vasco  Da Gama-Patna Express derailed at Manikpur Station between Manikpur-Allahabad Section over Allahabad Division of North Central Railway  on  24.11.2017.    Statutory  inquiry  into  the  derailment  of Train  No.12741  Down  Vasco  Da  Gama-Patna  Express  has  been ordered to be conducted to determine the  reasons of the accident by  the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) North Eastern Circle, Lucknow under the Ministry of Civil Aviation. (b): As a result of this accident, four (04) rail passengers lost their lives  and  eight  (08)  were  injured,  in  derailment  of  Vasco  Da  Gama Patna Express.  Ex-gratia of ` 26,50,000/- has been paid by Railways to the next of kin of the passengers who lost their lives and to the passengers  who  sustained  injuries.  Compensation  is    paid  on  the decree awarded by Railway Claims Tribunal (RCT). (c) & (d): A statutory inquiry into the derailment of Train No.12741 Down  Vasco  Da  Gama-Patna  Express  has  been  ordered  to  be conducted to determine the reasons of the accident by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) North Eastern Circle,

Lucknow under the Ministry of Civil Aviation. The Commissioner of Railway  Safety  (CRS)  North  Eastern  Circle,  Lucknow  under  the Ministry of Civil Aviation has not submitted its report.

(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.    Preventive  and  predictive maintenance  of  the  Railway  assets  is  undertaken  to  ensure  safe train operation. Safety  devices/systems  being  used  to  prevent accidents include Electronic Interlocking, track circuiting, provision of  Block  Proving  Axle  Counters  (BPAC),  Colour  Light  LED  Signals, Train Protection Warning Systems (TPWS), Vigilance Control Device (VCD), Fog Pass Device,  usage of 52kg/60 kg, 90 or  higher UTS rails and Pre-stressed Concrete Sleepers, use of vehicular  digital types of  machines  for  ultrasonic  flaw  detection  (USFD),  Technology  of Alumino Thermit welds has been upgraded by introduction of Auto weigh method, pre-heating with compressed air petrol and 3 piece moulds,  so  as  to  upgrade  the  quality  and  reliability  of  welds. Electronic  monitoring  of  track  geometry  is  carried  out  to  detect defects  and  plan  maintenance.  Steel  Channel  Sleepers  on  girder bridges  is  being  used  while  carrying  out  primary  track  renewals. Further, it has been decided to lay Thick webs switches, Weldable Cast Maganese Steel crossings on identified routes. Progressive use of  Linke  Hofmann  Busch  (LHB)  Coaches,  use  of  Centre  Buffer Coupler  with  Integral  Coach  Factory  (ICF)  Coaches,  etc.    Railway tracks  are  replaced  on  age  cum  condition  basis  through  track renewal works which is an ongoing process. 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,  patrolling  of  tracks,  footplate inspections  and  safety  reviews  at  various  levels,  etc  are  regularly conducted  to  continuously  monitor  and  improve  safety  aspects  of the Indian Railways.

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