Lok Sabha Question No. 1927 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-03
Subject: Compensation to Rail Accident Victims
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Rajeshbhai Naranbhai Chudasama

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1927 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.07.2019

## COMPENSATION TO RAIL ACCIDENT VICTIMS 1927.   SHRI RAJESHBHAI CHUDASAMA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of rail accidents/ derailments that occurred in various Railway Zones during the last three years and the current year, year and zone-wise;
- (b) the number of passengers who died/got injured in these accidents, year and zone-wise;
- (c) the details of compensation paid to them; and
- (d) the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  avoid  such accidents in future?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

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

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO  1927  BY  SHRI  RAJESHBHAI  CHUDASAMA TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 03.07.2019 REGARDING COMPENSATION TO RAIL ACCIDENT VICTIMS

(a)  &  (b):      Zone-wise  and  year-wise  number  of  consequential  train accidents (including accidents at unmanned level crossings caused due to negligence of road vehicle users) during the last three years i.e. 201617  to  2018-19  and  the  current  year  from  (1 st   April,  2019  to  15 th   June, 2019) are given below:

| Zonal Railway   | Year     | Type of Accidents   | Type of Accidents   | Type of Accidents   | Type of Accidents     | Type of Accidents       | Type of Accidents   | Total   |
|-----------------|----------|---------------------|---------------------|---------------------|-----------------------|-------------------------|---------------------|---------|
|                 |          | Collision           | Derailment          | Fire in Trains      | Manned Level Crossing | Unmanned Level Crossing | Misc.               |         |
|                 | 2016-17  | -                   | 7                   | -                   | -                     | -                       | -                   | 7       |
|                 | 2017-18  | -                   | 8                   | -                   | -                     | -                       | -                   | 8       |
| Central         | 2018-19  | -                   | 4                   | 2                   | -                     | -                       | -                   | 6       |
|                 | 2019-20* | -                   | -                   | 1                   | -                     | -                       | -                   | 1       |
| Eastern         | 2016-17  | 1                   | 5                   | -                   | -                     | 1                       | -                   | 7       |
| Eastern         | 2017-18  | -                   | 1                   | 1                   | -                     | -                       | -                   | 2       |
| Eastern         | 2018-19  | -                   | -                   | -                   | -                     | -                       | -                   | -       |
| Eastern         | 2019-20* | 1                   | -                   | -                   | 1                     | -                       | -                   | 2       |
| East Central    | 2016-17  | -                   | 13                  | -                   | -                     | 4                       | -                   | 17      |
| East Central    | 2017-18  | -                   | 6                   | 1                   | -                     | 2                       | -                   | 9       |
| East Central    | 2018-19  | -                   | 6                   | -                   | -                     | 1                       | 1                   | 8       |
| East Central    | 2019-20* | -                   | 2                   | -                   | -                     | -                       | -                   | 2       |
| East Coast      | 2016-17  | 1                   | 6                   | -                   | -                     | -                       | -                   | 7       |
| East Coast      | 2017-18  | -                   | 4                   | -                   | -                     | -                       | -                   | 4       |
| East Coast      | 2018-19  | -                   | 2                   | -                   | -                     | -                       | -                   | 2       |
| East Coast      | 2019-20* | -                   | -                   | -                   | -                     | -                       | -                   | -       |
| North Central   | 2016-17  | 1                   | 4                   | 1                   | -                     | 1                       | -                   | 7       |
| North Central   | 2017-18  | -                   | 3                   | -                   | -                     | 2                       | -                   | 5       |
| North Central   | 2018-19  | -                   | -                   | 1                   | 1                     | -                       | -                   | 2       |
|                 | 2019-20* | -                   | 3                   | 1                   | -                     | -                       | -                   | 4       |
| North Eastern   | 2016-17  | -                   | 1                   | -                   | -                     | 2                       | -                   | 3       |
| North Eastern   | 2017-18  | -                   | 4                   | -                   | -                     | 1                       | -                   | 5       |
| North Eastern   | 2018-19  | -                   | 4                   | -                   | -                     | 1                       | -                   | 5       |

|               | 2019-20*        | -   | -   | -   | -   | -   | -   | -   |
|---------------|-----------------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
|               | 2016-17         | -   | 5   | -   | -   | 3   | -   | 8   |
|               | 2017-18         | -   | 1   | -   | 1   | -   | -   | 2   |
|               | 2018-19         | -   | 4   | 1   | 1   | -   | -   | 6   |
|               | 2019-20*        | -   | 1   | -   | -   | -   | -   | 1   |
| North         | 2016-17         | -   | 2   | -   | -   | 2   | -   | 4   |
| North         | 2017-18         | 2   | 2   | -   | -   | 1   | -   | 5   |
| North         | 2018-19         | -   | 4   | -   | -   | -   | -   | 4   |
|               | 2019-20*        | -   | -   | -   | -   | -   | -   | -   |
| Northern      | 2016-17         | -   | 10  | -   | -   | 4   | -   | 14  |
| Northern      | 2017-18         | -   | 10  | 1   | 2   | 3   | -   | 16  |
| Northern      | 2018-19         | -   | 10  | -   | -   | -   | -   | 10  |
| Northern      | 2019-20*        | -   | 1   | -   | -   | -   | -   | 1   |
| South         | 2016-17         | -   | 1   | -   | -   | -   | -   | 1   |
| South         | 2017-18         | -   | 3   | -   | -   | -   | -   | 3   |
| South         | 2018-19         | -   | 1   | 1   | -   | -   | -   | 2   |
| South         | 2019-20*        | -   | 2   | -   | -   | -   | -   | 2   |
| South         | 2016-17         | 1   | -   | -   | -   | 1   | -   | 2   |
| South         | 2017-18         | 1   | 2   | -   | -   | -   | -   | 3   |
| South         | 2018-19         | -   | 3   | -   | -   | -   | -   | 3   |
| South Central | 2019-20*        | -   | -   | 1   | -   | -   | -   | 1   |
| South Central | 2016-17         | -   | 5   | -   | -   | -   | -   | 5   |
| South Central | 2017-18         | -   | 1   | -   | -   | -   | -   | 1   |
| South Central | 2018-19         | -   | -   | -   | -   | -   | -   | -   |
| South         | 2019-20*        | -   | -   | -   | -   | -   | -   | -   |
| South         | 2016-17         | -   | 1   | -   | -   | 2   | -   | 3   |
| South         | 2017-18         | -   | 1   | -   | -   | -   | -   | 1   |
| South         | 2018-19         | -   | 1   | -   | -   | -   | -   | 1   |
| Southern      | 2019-20*        | -   | -   | -   | -   | -   | -   | -   |
| Southern      | 2016-17         | 1   | 7   | -   | -   | -   | -   | 8   |
| Southern      | 2017-18 2018-19 | - - | 3 4 | -   | - - | - 1 | - - | 3   |
| Southern      | 2019-20*        |     | -   | -   | -   |     |     | 5   |
|               |                 | -   |     | -   |     | -   | -   | -   |
| West          | 2016-17         | -   | 2   | -   | -   | -   | -   | 2   |
|               | 2017-18         | -   | -   | -   | -   | -   | -   | -   |
|               | 2018-19         | -   | 1   | -   | -   | -   | -   | 1   |
|               | 2019-20*        | -   | 1   | -   | -   | -   | -   | 1   |
| Western       | 2016-17         | -   | 8   | -   | -   | -   | -   | 8   |
|               | 2017-18         | -   | 4   | -   | -   | 1   | -   | 5   |
|               | 2018-19         | -   | 2   | -   | 1   | -   | -   | 3   |
|               | 2019-20*        | -   | -   | -   | -   | -   | -   | -   |
|               | 2016-17         | -   | 1   | -   | -   | -   | -   | 1   |

| Konkan        | 2017-18   | -   | 1   | -   | -   | -   | -   | 1   |
|---------------|-----------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
| Konkan        | 2018-19   | -   | -   | -   | -   | -   | -   | -   |
| Konkan        | 2019-20*  | -   | -   | 1   | -   | -   | -   | 1   |
| Kolkata Metro | 2016-17   | -   | -   | -   | -   | -   | -   | -   |
| Kolkata Metro | 2017-18   | -   | -   | -   | -   | -   | -   | -   |
| Kolkata Metro | 2018-19   | -   | -   | 1   | -   | -   | -   | 1   |
| Kolkata Metro | 2019-20*  | -   | -   | -   | -   | -   | -   |     |

The  number  of  consequential  train  accidents  has  shown  a  decreasing trend and has reduced from 118 in 2013-14 to 104 in 2016-17, to 73 in 2017-18 and further to 59 in 2018-19. These are the lowest ever figures in the history of Indian Railways.

Year-wise  and  Zone-wise  number  of  passengers  killed  and  injured  in consequential train accidents during the last three years i.e. 2016-17 to 2018-19 and the current year from (1 st  April, 2019 to 15 th  June, 2019) are given below:

| Zonal Railway   | Year     | Number of Passengers   | Number of Passengers   | Total   |
|-----------------|----------|------------------------|------------------------|---------|
|                 |          | Killed                 | Injured                |         |
| Central         | 2016-17  | -                      | -                      | -       |
|                 | 2017-18  | -                      | -                      | -       |
|                 | 2018-19  | -                      | -                      | -       |
|                 | 2019-20* | -                      | -                      | -       |
| Eastern         | 2016-17  | -                      | -                      | -       |
| Eastern         | 2017-18  | -                      | -                      | -       |
| Eastern         | 2018-19  | -                      | -                      | -       |
| Eastern         | 2019-20* | -                      | -                      | -       |
| East Central    | 2016-17  | -                      | -                      | -       |
|                 | 2017-18  | -                      | 2                      | 2       |
|                 | 2018-19  | 7                      | 32                     | 39      |
|                 | 2019-20* | -                      | -                      | -       |
| East Coast      | 2016-17  | 41                     | 56                     | 97      |
| East Coast      | 2017-18  | -                      | -                      | -       |
| East Coast      | 2018-19  | -                      | -                      | -       |
| East Coast      | 2019-20* | -                      | -                      | -       |
| North Central   | 2016-17  | 152                    | 264                    | 416     |
|                 | 2017-18  | 4                      | 57                     | 61      |
|                 | 2018-19  | -                      | -                      | -       |

|                    | 2019-20*   | -   | 5   | 5   |
|--------------------|------------|-----|-----|-----|
| North              | 2016-17    | -   | -   | -   |
| North              | 2017-18    | -   | -   | -   |
| North              | 2018-19    | -   | 6   | 6   |
| North              | 2019-20*   | -   | -   | -   |
| Northeast Frontier | 2016-17    | 2   | 7   | 9   |
| Northeast Frontier | 2017-18    | -   | -   | -   |
| Northeast Frontier | 2018-19    | 2   | -   | 2   |
| Northeast Frontier | 2019-20*   | -   | -   | -   |
| North              | 2016-17    | -   | 6   | 6   |
| North              | 2017-18    | -   | -   | -   |
| North              | 2018-19    | -   | -   | -   |
|                    | 2019-20*   | -   | -   | -   |
|                    | 2016-17    | -   | 6   | 6   |
| Northern           | 2017-18    | 24  | 117 | 141 |
| Northern           | 2018-19    | 7   | 36  | 43  |
| Northern           | 2019-20*   | -   | -   | -   |
| South              | 2016-17    | -   | -   | -   |
| South              | 2017-18    | -   | -   | -   |
| South              | 2018-19    | -   | -   | -   |
|                    | 2019-20*   | -   | -   | -   |
|                    | 2016-17    | -   | -   | -   |
|                    | 2017-18    | -   | -   | -   |
|                    | 2018-19    | -   | -   | -   |
|                    | 2019-20*   | -   | -   | -   |
| South Central      | 2016-17    | -   | -   | -   |
|                    | 2017-18    | -   | -   | -   |
|                    | 2018-19    | -   | -   | -   |
|                    | 2019-20*   | -   | -   | -   |
|                    | 2016-17    | -   | -   | -   |
| South              | 2017-18    | -   | -   | -   |
| South              | 2018-19    | -   | -   | -   |
| South              | 2019-20*   | -   | -   | -   |
| Southern           | 2016-17    | -   | 7   | 7   |
|                    | 2017-18    | -   | -   | -   |
|                    | 2018-19    | -   | -   | -   |
|                    | 2019-20*   | -   | -   | -   |
| West               | 2016-17    | -   | -   | -   |
|                    | 2017-18    | -   | -   | -   |
|                    | 2018-19    | -   | 3   | 3   |
|                    | 2019-20*   | -   | -   | -   |
|                    | 2016-17    | -   | -   | -   |

| Western       | 2017-18   | -   | 6   | 6   |
|---------------|-----------|-----|-----|-----|
| Western       | 2018-19   | -   | -   | -   |
| Western       | 2019-20*  | -   | -   | -   |
|               | 2016-17   | -   | -   | -   |
|               | 2017-18   | -   | -   | -   |
|               | 2018-19   | -   | -   | -   |
|               | 2019-20*  | -   | -   | -   |
| Kolkata Metro | 2016-17   | -   | -   | -   |
| Kolkata Metro | 2017-18   | -   | -   | -   |
| Kolkata Metro | 2018-19   | -   | 9   | 9   |
| Kolkata Metro | 2019-20*  | -   | -   | -   |

(c): The compensation paid by the Indian Railways to the next of kin of the dead and the injured persons due to consequential train accident/derailments during the last three years i.e. 2016-17 to 2018-19 and the current year from (1 st  April, 2019 to 31 st    May,  2019)  are  given below:

* Up to 31 st  May, 2019.

| Year     |   Compensation paid by Indian Railways ( ₹ in lakhs) |
|----------|------------------------------------------------------|
| 2016-17  |                                               303.17 |
| 2017-18  |                                               188.51 |
| 2018-19  |                                               641.15 |
| 2019-20* |                                               228.31 |

(Note: The compensation paid in a year does not necessarily relate to the accidents in that year. The amount of compensation depends upon the number of cases finalized by Railway Claims Tribunal in a particular year irrespective of the year(s) in which the accidents have occurred.)

(d):  Safety  is  accorded  the  highest  priority  by  Indian  Railways  and  all possible steps are undertaken  on  a continuous  basis to prevent accidents and to enhance safety of passengers. Following steps/measures have been taken to prevent accidents:-

1. Rashtriya  Rail  Sanraksha  Kosh  (RRSK)  has  been  introduced  in 2017-18  for replacement/renewal/upgradation  of  critical satety assets, with a corpus of ₹ 1 lakh crore for five years, having annual outlay of ₹ 20000 crore.
2. Indian Railways has already adopted the technological upgradation in  safety  aspects  of  coaches  and  wagons  by  way  of  introducing Modified Centre Buffer Couplers, Bogie Mounted Air Brake System (BMBS),  improved  suspension  design  and  provision  of  Automatic fire & smoke detection system in coaches. These modifications are being  provided  in  newly  manufactured  coaches  and  wagons  on  a regular basis.
3. Conventional ICF design coaches being replaced with LHB design coaches of Mail/Express trains in phased manner.
4. A GPS based Fog Pass device is being provided to loco pilots  in fog affected  areas  which  enables  loco  pilots  to  know  the  exact distance of the approaching landmarks like signals, level crossing gates etc.
5. In  order  to  improve  safety,  modern  track  structure  consisting  of Prestressed Concrete Sleeper (PSC), 60 KG, 90 or higher Ultimate Tensile  Strength  (UTS)  rails,  fanshaped  layout  turnout  on  PSC sleepers,  Steel  Channel  Sleepers  on  girder  bridges  is  used  while carrying out primary track renewals.
6. Long rail panels of 260 M/130M length are being manufactured at the steel plant to minimize number of Alumino Thermit joints in the track.
7. Provision of Thick Web Switches (TWS) is planned for all important routes of IR. To expedite provision of TWS, procurement of Thick Web Switches has been decentralized to zonal railways.
8. Ultrasonic Flaw Detection (USFD) testing of rails to detect flaws and timely removal of defective rails.
9. Mechanization of track maintenance is being carried out to reduce human errors and track management system has been introduced on  Indian  Railways  for  development  of  database  and  decision support system and to decide rationalize maintenance requirement and optimize inputs.
10. Electrical/Electronic Interlocking System with centralized operation  of  points  and  signals  are  being  provided  to  eliminate accident  due  to  human  failure  and  to  replace  old  mechanical systems.  Track  Circuiting of stations to enhance  safety  for verification  of  track  occupancy  by  electrical  means  instead  of human element.   Axle  Counter  for  Automatic  clearance  of  Block Section (BPAC) to ensure complete arrival of train without manual intervention  before  granting  line  clear  to  the  next  train  and  to reduce human element.
11. Train Protection and Warning System: Train Protection and Warning  System  (TPWS)  based  on  European  Technology  ETCS Level-1,  a  proven    Automatic  Train  Protection  (ATP)  System  to avoid train accident /collision on account of human error of Signal Passing at Danger (SPAD) or over speeding, has been provided on (i) Noapara - Kavi Subhash section of Kolkata Metro (28 RKMs) (ii) Chennai - Gumidipundi suburban section of Southern Railway (50 RKMs), Basin Bridge - Arrakkonam section of Southern Railway (67 RKMs)  (iii)  Hazrat  Nizamuddin  -  Agra  section  of  Northern/North Central Railway (200 RKMs).
12. Auxiliary Warning System (AWS): An ATP called Auxiliary Warning System (AWS) is presently    functional on 413 RKMs in the Mumbai suburban  section  of  Central  Railway  (289  RKMs)  and  Western Railway (124 RKMs). 13. Train  Collision  Avoidance  System  (TCAS):  TCAS  is  an  Automatic Train Protection (ATP) System being developed in association with 3  Indian  manufacturers.    The  system  has  been  installed  on Lingampalli  -  Vikarabad  -  Wadi,  Vikarabad  -  Bidar  section  (250 RKMs) on South Central Railway. Extensive field trials and safety validation  of  the  system  to  Safety  Integrity  Level  4  (SIL-4)  by Independent Safety Assessors (ISA) has been completed. Product of  all  the  3  firms  has  been  approved  by  RDSO  for  developmental order for speeds up to 110 Kmph in Absolute Block Sections.

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