Lok Sabha Question No. 2966 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-06
Subject: Action on Unclaimed Bodies in Railway Accidents
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Kalyan Banerjee

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  2966 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.08.2025

## ACTION ON UNCLAIMED BODIES IN RAILWAY ACCIDENTS

## 2966. SHRI KALYAN BANERJEE:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  it  is  a  fact  that  one  third  of  those  who  have  died  on  the railway  lines/in  accidents  in  the  Country  during  last  Fifteen  years have remained unclaimed;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  of  number  of  such  unclaimed  bodies  since  2019, State-wise;
- (c) the action taken so far on unclaimed bodies; and
- (d) the details of steps taken/to be taken to check the railway accidents during the last two years along with the detail of proposals received so far to avoid such accidents?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a)  to  (d):  'Police'  and  'Public  Order'  are  State  subjects  under the  Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India and therefore, State Governments are responsible  for  prevention,  detection,  registration,  and  investigation  of crime  and  maintenance  of  law  and  order  on  Railways  through their law

enforcement agencies viz. Government Railway Police (GRP)/District Police. Railway  Protection  Force  (RPF)  supplements  the  efforts  of  GRP/  District Police to  provide  better  protection  and  security  to  railway  property, passenger area and passengers and for matters connected therewith.

The cases of unnatural death are registered and investigated by the state police as it is their constitutional responsibility. Accordingly, during investigation of the case, the dead bodies are handed over to the next of kin.  In  cases  where  the  deceased  are  not  identified,  state  police  dispose such bodies as per the legal provisions.

The data related to unnatural deaths on railways is published by National Crime  Record  Bureau  (NCRB)  in  Accidental  Deaths  &  Suicides  in  India (ADSI).  The  data  for  the  years  2023  &  2024  has  not  yet  been  published. However, the details of dead bodies which remained unclaimed / unidentified are not published separately by NCRB.

Safety is accorded the highest priority on Indian Railways. As a consequence of  various  safety  measures  taken  over  the  years,  there  has been  a  steep  decline  in  the  number  of  accidents.  Consequential  Train Accidents have reduced from 135 in 2014-15 to 31 in 2024-25 as shown in the graph below.

It  may  be  noted  that  the  Consequential  Train  Accidents during  the period 2004-14  was  1711  (average  171  per  annum),  which  has  declined  to  31  in 2024-25 and further to 3 in 2025-26 (upto June).

Another  important  index  showing  improved  safety  in  train operations is

Accidents  Per  Million  Train  Kilometer  (APMTKM)  which  has  reduced  from 0.11  in  2014-15  to  0.03  in  2024-25,  indicating  an  improvement  of  approx. 73% during the said period.

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

| Expenditure on Safety related activities (Rs. in Cr.)   | Expenditure on Safety related activities (Rs. in Cr.)   | Expenditure on Safety related activities (Rs. in Cr.)   | Expenditure on Safety related activities (Rs. in Cr.)   | Expenditure on Safety related activities (Rs. in Cr.)   | Expenditure on Safety related activities (Rs. in Cr.)   |
|---------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|
|                                                         | 2013-14 (Act.)                                          | 2022- 23                                                | 2023-24 (Act.)                                          | RE 2024- 25                                             | BE 2025- 26                                             |
|                                                         |                                                         | (Act.)                                                  |                                                         |                                                         |                                                         |
| Maintenance of Permanent Way                            | 9,172                                                   | 18,115                                                  | 20,322                                                  | 21,800                                                  | 23,316                                                  |

| Maintenance of Motive Power and Rolling Stock       | 14,796   | 27,086   | 30,864   | 31,540   | 30,666   |
|-----------------------------------------------------|----------|----------|----------|----------|----------|
| Maintenance of Machines                             | 5,406    | 9,828    | 10,772   | 12,112   | 12,880   |
| Road Safety LCs and ROBs/ RUBs                      | 1,986    | 5,347    | 6,662    | 8,184    | 7,706    |
| Track Renewals                                      | 4,985    | 16,326   | 17,850   | 22,669   | 22,800   |
| Bridge Works                                        | 390      | 1,050    | 1,907    | 2,130    | 2,169    |
| Signal & Telecom Works                              | 905      | 2,456    | 3,751    | 6,006    | 6,800    |
| Workshops Incl. PUs and Misc. expenditure on Safety | 1,823    | 7,119    | 9,523    | 9,581    | 10,134   |
| Total                                               | 39,463   | 87,327   | 1,01,651 | 1,14,022 | 1,16,470 |

2. Electrical/Electronic Interlocking Systems with centralized operation of points and signals have been provided at 6,635 stations up to 30.06.2025 to reduce accident due to human failure.
3. Interlocking of Level Crossing (LC) Gates has been provided at 11,096 level Crossing Gates up to 30.06.2025 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  6,640 stations up to 30.06.2025.
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  is  provided  progressively  in  phased manner. Kavach  has  already  been  deployed  on 1548 RKm  on  South

Central  Railway  and  North  Central  Railway.  Presently,  the  work  is  in progress  on  Delhi-Mumbai  and  Delhi-Howrah  corridors  (approximately 3000  RKm).  Kavach  has  been  successfully  commissioned  over  KotaMathura section (Delhi - Mumbai route) covering 324 Route Kilometers on 30.07.2025.

6. 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.
7. System  of  disconnection  and  reconnection  for  S&T  equipment  as  per protocol has been re-emphasized.
8. All  locomotives  are  equipped  with  Vigilance  Control  Devices  (VCD)  to improve alertness of Loco Pilots.
9. 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.
10. 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.
6. Modern track structure consisting of 60kg, 90 Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS)  rails,  Prestressed  Concrete  Sleeper  (PSC)  Normal/Wide  base sleepers  with  elastic  fastening,  fan  shaped  layout  turnout  on  PSC sleepers,  Steel  Channel/H-beam  Sleepers  on  girder  bridges  is  used
11. while carrying out primary track renewals.
12. Mechanisation  of  track  laying  activity  through  use  of  track  machines like PQRS, TRT, T-28 etc. to reduce human errors.

- increasing joints,  thereby
13. Maximizing supply of 130m/260m  long  rail panels for progress  of rail  renewal  and  avoiding  welding of improving safety.
14. Ultrasonic  Flaw  Detection  (USFD)  testing  of  rails  to  detect  flaws  and timely removal of defective rails.
15. Laying of longer rails, minimizing the use of Alumino Thermic Welding and  adoption  of  better  welding  technology  for  rails  i.e.,  Flash  Butt Welding.
16. Monitoring  of  track  geometry  by  OMS  (Oscillation  Monitoring  System) and TRC (Track Recording Cars).
17. Patrolling of railway tracks to look out for weld/rail fractures.
18. The use of Thick Web Switches and Weldable CMS Crossing in turnout
- renewal works.
19. Inspections at regular intervals are carried out to monitor and educate staff for observance of safe practices.
20. 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.
21. Detailed  instructions  on  issues  related  with  safety  of  Track,  e.g. integrated block, corridor block, worksite safety, monsoon precautions,
- etc. have been issued.
22. Preventive  maintenance  of  railway  assets  (Coaches  &  Wagons)  is undertaken to ensure safe train operations.
23. Replacement  of  conventional  ICF  design  coaches  with  LHB  design coaches is being done.
24. All unmanned level  crossings (UMLCs) on Broad Gauge (BG) route have

been eliminated by January 2019.

25. Safety  of  Railway  Bridges  is  ensured  through  regular  inspection  of Bridges. The requirement of repair/rehabilitation of Bridges is taken up
2. based upon the conditions assessed during these inspections.
3. 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
26. coaches, penalties etc.
27. 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.
6. 28.
7. Regular counselling and training of staff is undertaken.
29. 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  related  to  better  maintenance practices,  Technological  improvements,  better  infrastructure  and  rolling stock etc. undertaken by Railways are tabulated below:-

| S.N.   | Item                                                      | 2004-05 to 2013-14                      | 2014-15 to 2024-25 (till March 25)      | 2014-25 Vs. 2004-14                     |
|--------|-----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|
|        | Technological improvements                                | Technological improvements              | Technological improvements              | Technological improvements              |
| 1.     | Use of high-quality rails (60 Kg) (Km)                    | 57,450 Km                               | 1.43 Lakh Km                            | More than 2 times                       |
| 2.     | Longer Rail Panels (260m) (Km)                            | 9,917 Km                                | 77,522 Km                               | Nearly 8 times                          |
| 3.     | Electronic Interlocking (Stations)                        | 837 Stations                            | 3,691 Stations                          | More than 4 times                       |
| 4.     | Fog Pass Safety Devices (Nos.)                            | As on 31.03.14: 90 Nos.                 | As on 31.03.25: 25,939                  | 288 times                               |
| 5.     | Thick Web Switches (Nos.)                                 | Nil                                     | 28,301 Nos.                             |                                         |
|        | Better maintenance practices                              | Better maintenance practices            | Better maintenance practices            | Better maintenance practices            |
| 1.     | Primary Rail Renewal (Track Km)                           | 32,260 Km                               | 49,941 Km                               | 1.5 times                               |
| 2.     | USFD (Ultra Sonic Flaw detection) Testing of Welds (Nos.) | 79.43 Lakh                              | 2 Crore                                 | More than 2 times                       |
| 3.     | Weld failures (Nos.)                                      | In 2013-14: 3699 Nos.                   | In 2024-25: 370 Nos.                    | 90 % reduction                          |
| 4.     | Rail fractures (Nos.)                                     | In 2013-14: 2548 Nos.                   | In 2024-25: 289 Nos.                    | More than 88% reduction                 |
|        | Better infrastructure and Rolling stock                   | Better infrastructure and Rolling stock | Better infrastructure and Rolling stock | Better infrastructure and Rolling stock |
| 1.     | New Track KM added (Track km)                             | 14,985 Nos.                             | 34,428 Km                               | More than 2 times                       |

|   2. | Flyovers (RoBs)/ Underpasses (RUBs) (Nos.)   | 4,148 Nos.           | 13,808 Nos.                                      | More than 3 times   |
|------|----------------------------------------------|----------------------|--------------------------------------------------|---------------------|
|    3 | Unmanned Level crossings (nos.) on BG        | As on 31.03.14: 8948 | As on 31.03.24: Nil (All eliminated by 31.01.19) | Removed             |
|    4 | Manufacture of LHB Coaches (Nos.)            | 2,337 Nos.           | 42,677                                           | More than 18 times  |

The following steps are also being taken for Commuters safety over Indian Railways:-

1. Various  awareness  and  sensitization  campaigns  are  conducted  by railways using social media, digital & print media.
2. Frequent announcement is made at railway stations using Loud Hailers as well as through Public Announcement systems cautioning passengers against crossing tracks, boarding moving trains and travelling on footboards.
3. Short videos for passenger awareness are also displayed in Rail Display Network at railway station.
4. Flex boards have been installed at vulnerable locations of trespassing to caution the passengers/public against crossing railway tracks.
5. RPF  staff  is  deployed  at  vulnerable  locations  to  prevent  trespassing and trespassers are prosecuted.
6. Legal  action  is  taken  against  persons  travelling  on  train  rooftops, footboards and other restricted places of the train formation.

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