Lok Sabha Question No. 2747 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-07
Subject: Train Derailments and Accidents in the Country
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Dhairyasheel Sambhajirao Mane, Shri  Selvaganapathi T.M., Shri Sudheer Gupta

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2747 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.08.2024

## TRAIN DERAILMENTS AND ACCIDENTS IN THE COUNTRY

2747. SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

SHRI DHAIRYASHEEL SAMBHAJIRAO MANE: SHRI SELVAGANAPATHI T.M.:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether a number of train derailments and accidents including Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express, Kanchenjunga Express in Darjeeling, Coromandel Express accident and Gonda train in Uttar Pradesh occurred in the country;
- (b) if so, the number of persons killed/injured in these accidents and the total amount of compensation paid to the families of the victims, accident-wise;
- (c) whether any inquiry has been conducted/ordered into these accidents, if so, the details and the outcome thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has prepared any comprehensive action plan to prevent  future  derailments  and  accidents  and  improve  safety  measures within the railway network, in view of the recent tragic accident and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the steps taken/to be taken by the Government to check rail accidents in future and ensure the safety and security of the rail passengers?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(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  2747  BY  SHRI    SUDHEER    GUPTA,  SHRI  DHAIRYASHEEL SAMBHAJIRAO MANE  AND SHRI SELVAGANAPATHI  T.M. TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 07.08.2024 REGARDING TRAIN DERAILMENTS AND ACCIDENTS IN THE COUNTRY

(a)  to  (c):  As  a  consequence  of  various  safety  measures  taken  over  the years, there has been a steep decline in the number of consequential train accidents including derailments. The graph below indicates that Consequential Train Accidents have reduced from 473 in 2000-01 to 40 in 2023-24.    The  figure  for  2023-24  includes  Coromandal  Express  Train Accident which took place in June 2023.

It  may  be  noted  that  the  consequential  train  accidents  during  the  period 2004-14  was  1711  (average  171  per  annum),  which  has  declined  to  678 during the period 2014-24 (average 68 per annum).

Another  important  index  showing  improved  safety  in  train  operations  is Accidents  Per  Million  Train  Kilometer  (APMTKM)  which  has  reduced  from 0.65 in 2000-01 to 0.03 in 2023-24, indicating an improvement of more than 95% during the said period.

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## Consequential Train Accidents on Indian Railways and casualties therein:

| Period             |   No. of Consequential Train Accidents |   No. of Deaths |   No. of Injuries |
|--------------------|----------------------------------------|-----------------|-------------------|
| 2004-05 to 2013-14 |                                   1711 |             904 |              3155 |
| 2014-15 to 2023-24 |                                    678 |             748 |              2087 |

The Kanchanjunga Express Train Accident and Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express  Train  Accident  (Gonda  Train  Accident)  took  place  on  17.06.2024 and 18.07.2024 respectively, wherein 12 passengers lost their lives and 57 sustained injuries.

In  the  case  of  Coromandal  Express  Train  Accident,  Commissioner  of Railway Safety (CRS) has established that the accident took place due to the  lapses  in  the  signalling-circuit  alteration  carried  out  in  the  past  and execution of the signalling work related to replacement of Electric Lifting Barrier  for  level  crossing  gate.  CRS  Inquiry  has  been  ordered  in  cases  of Kanchanjunga  Express  Train  Accident  and  Chandigarh-Dibrugarh  Express Train Accident (Gonda Train Accident).

As  per  the  decree  awarded  by  Railway  Claims  Tribunal,  an  amount  of Rs.25.10 Cr has  been  paid  as  compensation  to  the  next  of kin of deceased/victims for death and injury in Coromondal Express train Accident.    Enhanced ex-gratia payment has been made to the next of kin of the deceased victims and the injured, purely on humanitarian grounds as under :-

| S.No.   | Accident Details                        | Enhanced Ex-Gratia paid   | Enhanced Ex-Gratia paid   |
|---------|-----------------------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|
|         |                                         | Death                     | Injured                   |
| 1.      | Coromandal Exp.                         | 26.9 Cr.                  | 5.79 Cr.                  |
| 2.      | Kanchanjunga Exp.                       | 1.30 Cr.                  | 40.50 lakh                |
| 3.      | Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Train(Gonda Train) | 30.50 lakh                | 24 lakh                   |

- (d)  &  (e)  Safety  is  accorded  the  highest  priority  on  Indian  Railways.  The various safety measures taken to improve safety in train operations are as under:-

## 1. On  Indian  Railways,  the  expenditure  on  Safety  related  works  has increased over the years as under:

| Expenditure on Safety (Rs in Cr.)                   | Expenditure on Safety (Rs in Cr.)   | Expenditure on Safety (Rs in Cr.)   | Expenditure on Safety (Rs in Cr.)   |
|-----------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
|                                                     | 2022-23 (Act)                       | 2023- 24(Act)                       | BE 2024-25                          |
| Maintenance of Permanent Way & Works                | 18,115                              | 20,322                              | 21,386                              |
| Maintenance of Motive Power and Rolling Stock       | 27,086                              | 30,864                              | 31,494                              |
| Maintenance of Machines                             | 9,828                               | 10,772                              | 11,864                              |
| Road Safety LCs and ROBs/ RUBs                      | 5,347                               | 6,662                               | 9,980                               |
| Track Renewals                                      | 16,326                              | 17,850                              | 17,652                              |
| Bridge Works                                        | 1,050                               | 1,907                               | 2,137                               |
| Signal & Telecom Works                              | 2,456                               | 3,751                               | 4,647                               |
| Workshops Incl. PUs and Misc. expenditure on Safety | 7,128                               | 9,534                               | 9,634                               |
| Total                                               | 87,336                              | 1,01,662                            | 1,08,795                            |

2. Electrical/Electronic  Interlocking  Systems  with  centralized  operation of  points  and  signals  have  been  provided  at  6,589  stations  up  to 30.06.2024 to eliminate accident due to human failure.
3. Interlocking of Level Crossing (LC) Gates has been provided at 11,048 level  Crossing  Gates  up  to  30.06.2024  for  enhancing  safety  at  LC gates.
4. Complete Track Circuiting of stations to enhance safety by verification of track occupancy by electrical means has been provided at 6,609 stations up to 30.06.2024.
5. Kavach is a highly technology intensive system, which requires safety certification of highest order. Kavach was adopted as a National ATP system in July 2020. Kavach has so far been deployed on 1465 Route km  and  144  locomotives  (including  Electric  Multiple  Unit  rakes)  on South  Central  Railway.    Kavach  is  provided  progressively  in  phased manner.
6. Axle counters for Automatic clearance of Block Section, BPAC (Block Proving Axle Counter) are provided to ensure complete arrival of train without manual intervention before granting line clear to receive next train  and  to  reduce  human  element.    These  systems  have  been provided on 6079 Block Sections upto 30.06.2024.
7. A  project  for  provision  of  Long  Term  Evolution  (LTE)  based  Mobile Train  Radio  Communication  system  has  been  approved  for  34,803 Rkms over Indian Railways.
8. The project for provision of Tunnel Communication has been taken up in various zonal Railways.
9. Emergency  talk-back  system  and  Emergency  Alarm  Systems  have been provided in Vande Bharat Train sets.
10. CCTVs have been provided in all Vande Bharat Express coaches.  Till date more than 9572 coaches are equipped with CCTV.
11. Detailed  instructions  on  issues  related  with  safety  of  Signalling  e.g. mandatory correspondence check, alteration work protocol, preparation of completion drawing, etc. Have been issued.
12. System of disconnection and reconnection for S&T equipment as per protocol has been re-emphasized.
13. All locomotives are equipped with Vigilance Control Devices (VCD) to improve alertness of Loco Pilots.
14. Retro-reflective  sigma  boards  are  provided  on  the  mast  which  is located two OHE masts prior to the signals in electrified territories to alert  the  crew  about  the  signal  ahead  when  visibility  is  low  due  to foggy weather.
15. A GPS based Fog Safety Device (FSD) is provided to loco pilots in fog affected areas which enables loco pilots to know the distance of the approaching landmarks like signals, level crossing gates etc.
16. Modern  track  structure  consisting  of  60kg,  90  Ultimate  Tensile Strength (UTS) rails, Prestressed Concrete Sleeper (PSC) Normal/Wide base sleepers with elastic fastening, fanshaped layout turnout on PSC sleepers,  Steel  Channel/H-beam  Sleepers  on  girder  bridges  is  used while carrying out primary track renewals.
17. Mechanization of track laying activity through use of track machines like PQRS, TRT, T-28 etc to reduce human errors.
18. Maximizing  supply  of  130m/260m  long  rail  panels  for  increasing progress  of  rail  renewal  and  avoiding  welding  of  joints,  thereby improving safety.
19. Ultrasonic Flaw Detection (USFD) testing of rails to detect flaws and timely removal of defective rails.
20. Laying of longer rails, minimizing the use of Alumino Thermic Welding and  adoption  of  better  welding  technology  for  rails  i.e.  Flash  Butt Welding.
21. Monitoring of track geometry by OMS (Oscillation Monitoring System) and TRC (Track Recording Cars).
22. Patrolling of railway tracks to look out for weld/rail fractures.
23. The use of Thick Web Switches and Weldable CMS Crossing in turnout renewal works.
24. Inspections at regular intervals are carried out to monitor and educate staff for observance of safe practices.
25. Web  based  online  monitoring  system  of  track  assets  viz.  Track database  and  decision  support  system  has  been  adopted  to  decide rationalized maintenance requirement and optimize inputs.
26. Detailed  instructions  on  issues  related  with  safety  of  Track  e.g. integrated block, corridor block, worksite safety, monsoon precautions etc. Have been issued.
27. Preventive  maintenance  of  railway  assets  (Coaches  &  Wagons)  is undertaken to ensure safe train operations.
28. Replacement  of  conventional  ICF  design  coaches  with  LHB  design coaches is being done.
29. All  unmanned  level  crossings  (UMLCs)  on  Broad  Gauge  (BG)  route have been eliminated by January 2019.
30. Safety  of  Railway  Bridges  is  ensured  through  regular  inspection  of Bridges. The requirement of repair/rehabilitation of Bridges is taken up based upon the conditions assessed during these inspections.
31. Indian Railways has displayed Statutory 'Fire Notices' for widespread passenger  information  in  all  coaches.  Fire  posters  are  provided  in every coach so as to educate and alert passengers regarding various Do's and Don'ts to prevent fire. These include messages regarding not carrying any inflammable material, explosives, prohibition of smoking inside the coaches, penalties etc.
32. Production Units are providing Fire detection and suppression system in newly manufactured Power Cars and Pantry Cars, Fire and Smoke detection system in newly manufactured coaches. Progressive fitment of the same in existing coaches is also underway by Zonal Railways in a phased manner.
33. Regular counselling and training of staff is undertaken.
34. Concept of Rolling Block introduced in Indian Railways (Open Lines) General  Rules  vide  Gazette    notification  dated  30.11.2023,  wherein work  of  integrated  maintenance/  repair/  replacement  of  assets  is planned up to 52 weeks in advance on rolling basis and executed as per plan.

The  details  of  the  Safety  related  works  undertaken  by  Railways  are tabulated below:

| SN   | Item                                                          | 2004-05 to 2013-14   | 2014-15 to 2023-24   | 2014-24 vs 2004- 14   |
|------|---------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------|----------------------|-----------------------|
|      | Track Maintenance                                             |                      |                      |                       |
| 1.   | Expenditure on Track Renewal (Rs. in Cr.)                     | 47,018               | 1,09,659             | 2.33 times            |
| 2.   | Rail Renewal Primary (Track Km)                               | 32,260               | 43,335               | 1.34 times            |
| 3.   | Use of high-quality rails (60 Kg) (Km)                        | 57,450               | 1,23,717             | 2.15 times            |
| 4.   | Longer Rail Panels (260m) (Km)                                | 9,917                | 68,233               | 6.88 times            |
| 5.   | USFD (Ultra Sonic Flaw detection) Testing of Rails (Track km) | 20,19,630            | 26,52,291            | 1.31 times            |

| 6.   | USFD (Ultra Sonic Flaw detection) Testing of Welds (Nos.)                    | 79,43,940                       | 1,73,06,046                                      | 2.17 times                      |
|------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------|
| 7.   | New Track KM added (Track km)                                                | 14,985                          | 31,180                                           | 2.08 times                      |
| 8.   | Weld failures (Nos.)                                                         | In 2013-14: 3699                | In 2023-24: 481                                  | 87% reduction                   |
| 9.   | Rail fractures (Nos.)                                                        | In 2013-14: 2548                | In 2023-24: 383                                  | 85% reduction                   |
| 10   | Thick Web Switches (Nos.)                                                    | Nil                             | 21,127                                           |                                 |
| 11   | Track Machines (Nos.)                                                        | As on 31.03.14 = 748            | As on 31.03.24 = 1,661                           | 122% increase                   |
|      | Level Crossing Gate Elimination                                              | Level Crossing Gate Elimination | Level Crossing Gate Elimination                  | Level Crossing Gate Elimination |
| 1.   | Elimination of Unmanned Level Crossing Gates (Nos.)                          | As on 31.03.14: 8948            | As on 31.03.24: Nil (All eliminated by 31.01.19) | 100% reduction                  |
| 2.   | Elimination of Manned Level Crossing Gates (Nos.)                            | 1,137                           | 7,075                                            | 6.21 Times                      |
| 3.   | Road over Bridges (RoBs)/ Road under Bridges (RUBs) (Nos.)                   | 4,148                           | 11,945                                           | 2.88 Times                      |
| 4.   | Expenditure on LC Elimination                                                | 5,726                           | 36,699                                           | 6.40 Times                      |
|      | Bridge Rehabilitation                                                        | Bridge Rehabilitation           | Bridge Rehabilitation                            | Bridge Rehabilitation           |
| 1.   | Expenditure on Bridge Rehabilitation (Rs. in Cr.)                            | 3,919                           | 8,008                                            | 2 Times                         |
|      | Signalling Works                                                             | Signalling Works                | Signalling Works                                 | Signalling Works                |
| 1.   | Electronic Interlocking (Stations)                                           | 837                             | 2,964                                            | 3.52 times                      |
| 2.   | Automatic Block Signaling (Km)                                               | 1,486                           | 2,497                                            | 1.67 times                      |
| 3.   | Fog Pass Safety Devices (Nos.)                                               | As on 31.03.14: 90              | As on 31.03.24: 19,742                           | 219 times                       |
|      | Rolling Stock                                                                | Rolling Stock                   | Rolling Stock                                    | Rolling Stock                   |
| 1.   | Manufacture of LHB Coaches (Nos.)                                            | 2,337                           | 36,933                                           | 15.80 times                     |
| 2.   | Provision of Fire and Smoke Detection System in AC coaches (Nos. of Coaches) | 0                               | 19,271                                           |                                 |

| 3.   | Provision of Fire Detection and Suppression System in Pantry and Power Cars (Nos. of Coaches)   | 0        | 2,991    |           |
|------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------|----------|-----------|
| 4.   | Provision of Fire Extinguishers in Non -AC coaches (Nos. of Coaches)                            | 0        | 66,840   |           |
|      | Budget allocation                                                                               |          |          |           |
| 1    | Gross Budgetary Support for Railway Investment (Rs. in Cr.)                                     | 1,56,739 | 8,25,967 | 5.3 times |

*****