Lok Sabha Question No. 489 (STARRED), answered on 2022-04-06
Subject: Accidents on Railways Tracks
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Ramdas Chandrabhanji Tadas, P.R. Natarajan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 489 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.04.2022

## ACCIDENTS ON RAILWAY TRACKS

- †*489. SHRI RAMDAS C. TADAS: SHRI NATARAJAN P.R.:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  deaths  of  humans  and animals,  particularly  elephants  on  railway  tracks  that  is  steadily increasing across the country;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  of  such  deaths  that  occurred  during  the  last  three years and the current year, human/animal-wise figure in each State;
- (c) whether the Railways has conducted any probe in this matter;
- (d) if so, the details thereof;
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (f) the steps taken/being taken by the Railways to check the recurrence of such incidents on railway tracks in the country in future?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND

ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

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

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (f)  OF  STARRED QUESTION NO. 489 BY SHRI RAMDAS C.TADAS AND SHRI NATARAJAN P.R. TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 06.04.2022 REGARDING ACCIDENTS ON RAILWAY TRACKS

(a) and (b): Based on the data published by National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)  available  upto  the  year  2020,  there  is  considerable  decrease  in number  of  persons  died  on  railways  in  untoward  incidents  and  other eventualities like trespass, suicide, electrocution etc. during the year 2020 as  compared  to  the  previous  year  2019.  However,  a  marginal  increase  is noticed in the year 2019 as compared to the previous year i.e. 2018. Figures for the number of persons died in untoward incidents and other incidents like trespass, suicide, electrocution etc. for the year 2021 on railways have not been published by NCRB.

The Zone-wise details of number of wild animals including elephants killed on railway tracks in the country during the last three years i.e. 2019, 2020, 2021 and current year i.e. 2022 (upto February) are appended.

(c)  to  (f):  'Police'  and  'Public  Order'  are  State  subjects  under  the  Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India and, as such, State Governments are responsible for prevention, detection, registration and investigation of crime and maintaining law and order etc. on Railways through their law enforcement agencies viz. Government Railway Police (GRP)/District Police. However, Railway Protection Force (RPF) supplements the efforts of GRP/District  Police  to  provide  better  protection  and  security  of  passenger area and passengers and for matters connected therewith. The State Police registers  cases  under  Section  174  of  Cr.PC  in  cases  of  unnatural  deaths including  unnatural  deaths  on  railways,  conducts  investigation  and  takes further action as per law.

Besides,  the  following  corrective  measures  are  also  being  taken  by  the Railways to prevent human deaths in untoward incidents on Railway track:-

- i. Railways have constituted interdepartmental 'Joint Committee' comprising officers of Safety, Security, Signal & Engineering departments  across  all  Zonal  Railways  to  study  the  causes  and suggest  specific  measures  to  minimise  deaths  due  to  untoward incidents  including  trespassing  by  humans.    Accordingly,  preventive and corrective measures are taken to improve and create infrastructure to minimise casualties.
- ii. Regular announcements are made through Passenger Address System at Railway stations urging passengers to use foot over bridges (FOBs) and to avoid crossing of railway tracks.
- iii. Various awareness campaigns are organized by Railways to sensitize passengers  about  the  fatalities  of  crossing  railway  tracks,  footboard/roof-top travelling, boarding/de-boarding running trains etc.
- iv. Regular drives are conducted against trespassing, travelling on footboard,  steps,  roof  top  of  trains,  boarding/de-boarding  running  trains and  the  persons  apprehended  are  prosecuted  under  the  relevant provisions of the Railways Act, 1989.
- v. Railway Protection Force personnel are deployed on locations vulnerable for trespassing.
- vi. Erection of boundary wall/fencing at identified locations, vulnerable to trespass.
- vii. Warning  sign  boards  are  provided  at  conspicuous  places  for  the awareness of passengers.
- viii. Unauthorized trespassing on Railway premises including the Railway track is a punishable offence under section 147 of the Railways Act, 1989.  During  the  previous  year  i.e.  2021,  total  82628  persons  were prosecuted and convicted for trespassing.

In  cases  of  killing  of  elephants/animals  on  railway  tracks,  Zonal  Railways investigate  the  incidences  and  conduct  inquiry  wherever  necessary.  Based on  the  findings  in  investigation/enquiry,  preventive  measures  are  taken  by Zonal  Railways  in  coordination  with  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and Climate Change. A Permanent Co-ordination Committee has been constituted between  Ministry  of  Railways  and  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and Climate Change for preventing elephant death in train accidents. A number of preventive  measures  are  taken  by  Zonal  Railways  in  coordination  with Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change  to  prevent  accidental death  of  animals  due  to  train  hits.    The  preventive  measures  undertaken include the following:-

- i.
- Imposition of speed restrictions in identified vulnerable locations.
- Provision  of  signage  boards  at  suitable  points  to  alert  train
- ii. drivers about elephant presence.
- iii. Sensitization  of  Train  crew  and  Station  Masters  on  a  regular basis.
- iv. Clearing  of  vegetation  along  railway  tracks  to  allow  unhindered and clear view for train drivers.
- v. Construction  of  underpasses  and  ramps  for  the  movement  of elephants at identified locations.
- vi.
- Provision of fencing at isolated locations.
- vii. Avoid  dumping  of  food  waste  along  railway  track  to  avoid unnecessary  congregation  of  elephants  and  other  wild  animals near railway track.
- viii. Installation of innovative Honey bee sound systems at locations, which are prone to crossing of elephants.
- ix. Forest  Department  staff  deputed  in  Railway  control  offices  to liaison  with  Railway  and  elephant  trackers  engaged  by  Forest Department for timely action by alerting station master and loco pilots.
- x. Counselling  of  villagers  for  avoiding  cattle  coming  near  track during safety propagandas in villages.

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APPENDIX  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  AND  (b)  OF  STARRED QUESTION NO. 489 BY SHRI RAMDAS C.TADAS AND SHRI NATARAJAN P.R. TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 06.04.2022 REGARDING ACCIDENTS ON RAILWAY TRACKS

(a)  and  (b):  The  Zone-wise  details  of  number  of  elephants  and  other  wild animals killed on railway tracks during the last three years i.e. 2019, 2020, 2021 and current year i.e. 2022 (upto February) are as under:-

| Railway            | Number of elephants deaths and other wild animals (excluding elephants) on railways tracks during the years 2019, 2020, 2021 & 2022 (upto February)   | Number of elephants deaths and other wild animals (excluding elephants) on railways tracks during the years 2019, 2020, 2021 & 2022 (upto February)   | Number of elephants deaths and other wild animals (excluding elephants) on railways tracks during the years 2019, 2020, 2021 & 2022 (upto February)   | Number of elephants deaths and other wild animals (excluding elephants) on railways tracks during the years 2019, 2020, 2021 & 2022 (upto February)   | Number of elephants deaths and other wild animals (excluding elephants) on railways tracks during the years 2019, 2020, 2021 & 2022 (upto February)   | Number of elephants deaths and other wild animals (excluding elephants) on railways tracks during the years 2019, 2020, 2021 & 2022 (upto February)   | Number of elephants deaths and other wild animals (excluding elephants) on railways tracks during the years 2019, 2020, 2021 & 2022 (upto February)   | Number of elephants deaths and other wild animals (excluding elephants) on railways tracks during the years 2019, 2020, 2021 & 2022 (upto February)   |
|--------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|                    | 2019                                                                                                                                                  | 2019                                                                                                                                                  | 2020                                                                                                                                                  | 2020                                                                                                                                                  | 2021                                                                                                                                                  | 2021                                                                                                                                                  | 2022 (upto February)                                                                                                                                  | 2022 (upto February)                                                                                                                                  |
|                    | Elephants                                                                                                                                             | Other wild animals                                                                                                                                    | Elephants                                                                                                                                             | Other wild animals                                                                                                                                    | Elephants                                                                                                                                             | Other wild animals                                                                                                                                    | Elephants                                                                                                                                             | Other wild animals                                                                                                                                    |
| Central            | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 1                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 1                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                     |
| East Central       | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 19                                                                                                                                                    | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 25                                                                                                                                                    | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 38                                                                                                                                                    | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 14                                                                                                                                                    |
| East Coast         | 2                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 2                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 3                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                     |
| Northern           | 2                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 2                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 2                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                     |
| North Eastern      | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 2                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 1                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                     |
| Northeast Frontier | 4                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 6                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 5                                                                                                                                                     | 1                                                                                                                                                     | 2                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                     |
| Southern           | 2                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 3                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 4                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                     |
| South Central      | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 2                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 3                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 1                                                                                                                                                     |
| South Eastern      | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 3                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 2                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                     |
| South East Central | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 18                                                                                                                                                    | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 7                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 25                                                                                                                                                    | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 22                                                                                                                                                    |
| South Western      | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 4                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 1                                                                                                                                                     | 1                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                     |
| West Central       | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 1                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 2                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 1                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                     |
| Western            | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 2                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                     |
| Total              | 10                                                                                                                                                    | 44                                                                                                                                                    | 16                                                                                                                                                    | 38                                                                                                                                                    | 19                                                                                                                                                    | 69                                                                                                                                                    | 3                                                                                                                                                     | 37                                                                                                                                                    |

*****