Lok Sabha Question No. 4678 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-28
Subject: Accidental Deaths among BRO Personnel
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Shri Pradyut Bordoloi, Shri Asaduddin Owaisi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4678

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28 th  March, 2025

## ACCIDENTAL DEATHS AMONG BRO PERSONNEL

## 4678. SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI: SHRI PRADYUT BORDOLOI:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  number  of  accidents  and  other  incidents  involving  the  Border  Roads  Organisation (BRO) during the last five years, year-wise;
- (b) the number of fatalities and injuries among BRO personnel including both permanent staff and contractual/civilian workers during the said period, year-wise;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  assessment  of  safety  risks  faced  by  BRO personnel, particularly in high-altitude and conflict-prone areas;
- (d) if so, the details thereof along with the measures being taken by the Government to enhance safety  protocols,  medical  support  and  working  conditions  for  BRO  personnel  and  civilian workers; and
- (e) whether the Government has introduced any compensation or insurance schemes for BRO personnel and civilian workers injured/killed during operations and if so, the details thereof?

## A  N  S  W  E  R

MINISTER OF STATE

(SHRI SANJAY SETH)

IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

- (a):  The number of accidents and other incidents in Border Roads Organisation (BRO) during the last five years are as under: -

|   Sl. No. |   Year |   No of accidents and other incidents |
|-----------|--------|---------------------------------------|
|         1 |   2020 |                                    44 |
|         2 |   2021 |                                    34 |
|         3 |   2022 |                                    46 |
|         4 |   2023 |                                    40 |
|         5 |   2024 |                                    37 |

- (b):  The number of fatalities and injuries among BRO personnel including both permanent staff and contractual/civilian workers during the last five years are as under:
- (c) & (d):  Yes, Sir. BRO has conducted safety assessment in High-Altitude and Conflict-Prone areas for BRO personnel including mapping of avalanche prone areas, identification of sharp curves  and  slide  prone  areas,  formulation  of  adequate  safety  protocol  in  coordination  with security forces, locations for work-site camps and bunkers for safety of personnel etc.

| Sl. No.   | Year   | BRO Personnel   | BRO Personnel   | Casual Paid Labourers (CPLs)   | Casual Paid Labourers (CPLs)   |
|-----------|--------|-----------------|-----------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
| Sl. No.   | Year   | Fatalities      | injuries        | Fatalities                     | injuries                       |
| 1.        | 2020   | 156             | 25              | 112                            | 20                             |
| 2.        | 2021   | 172             | 20              | 134                            | 15                             |
| 3.        | 2022   | 123             | 15              | 100                            | 10                             |
| 4.        | 2023   | 129             | 18              | 119                            | 16                             |
| 5.        | 2024   | 124             | 15              | 110                            | 12                             |

Various measures are taken to enhance safety protocols, medical support, and working conditions for BRO personnel and CPLs. BRO provides adequate safety aids viz. safety jackets, safety  helmets,  rain  coats,  boots,  winter  clothing  etc.  to  its  employees  and  CPLs.  Various amenities and facilities  such as  snow  huts,  pre-fabricated  shelters,  mobile/container  houses, mobile toilets, safe drinking water facilities, transportation facilities, refreshment centres etc. are also provided. Safety protocols are strictly followed as per local conditions. For medical support, every BRO unit/work-site is provisioned with adequate medical support like first aid, Additional Medical Investigation Room (AMIR), Central Medical Investigation Room (CMIR), Mobile medical health care team etc.

- (e):  Yes, Sir. Government has been providing following Compensation/ Insurance scheme for BRO personnel and CPLs: -
- (i) Compensation under Employee Compensation Act, 1923 to the employees of General Reserve Engineering Force (GREF) as well as CPLs.
- (ii) Ex-Gratia  Lumpsum  Compensation to  GREF  personnel  who  die  in  the performance  of  their  bonafide  official  duties.  Further,  Ex-Gratia  Lumpsum Compensation has been approved by MoD to Next of kin/legal heirs in case of death, permanent or partial disablement of CPLs.
- (iii) Central Government Employees' Group Insurance Scheme to GREF personnel.
- (iv) Group (Term) Insurance Scheme with an insurance cover of  Rs. 10 lakh in case of death of CPLs engaged by BRO.

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