Lok Sabha Question No. 7 (STARRED), answered on 2016-02-24
Subject: Accidents in Railway
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT, NAGARAJAN P.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO.  7 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.02.2016

## ACCIDENTS IN RAILWAY

- *7. SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT: SHRI P. NAGARAJAN:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  details  of  major  and  minor  train accidents  reported  during  the last  three  years  and  the  current  year  in  the  country  including  goods trains;
- (b)  the  number  of  persons  killed/injured  and  the  value  of  Government property damaged therein;
- (c)  the details of the compensation paid to the victims;
- (d)  whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  inquiry  into  these accidents, if so, the details thereof and the outcome thereof; and
- (e)    the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  prevent  recurrence  of  rail accidents?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI SURESH PRABHAKAR PRABHU)

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

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF STARRED QUESTION  NO.  7  BY  SHRI  VINAYAK  BHAURAO  RAUT  AND  SHRI P.  NAGARAJAN  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  24.02.2016 REGARDING ACCIDENTS IN RAILWAY

(a):    Details  of  consequential  train  accidents  (excluding  incident  at unmanned  level  crossings  caused  due  to  negligence  of  road  vehicle users) during the last three years is 69 in 2012-13, 71 in 2013-14, 85 in 2014-15 and 67 in the current year up to January, 2016.

- (b)  &  (c):  Details  of  number  of  casualties,  loss  of  railway  property, including the amount of compensation paid by Railways for death/injury in  Train  Accidents  during  the  last  three  years,  i.e.  2012-13,  2013-14, 2014-15  and  in  the  current  year  upto  January,  2016  are  provided  as under:

| Year                       | Number of Accidents   | Casualties   | Casualties   | Loss suffered in terms of property by Indian Railways (Approx. ` in crore)   | Compensation paid by Indian Railways (Approx. in ` )   |
|----------------------------|-----------------------|--------------|--------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|
|                            |                       | Killed       | Injured      | Loss suffered in terms of property by Indian Railways (Approx. ` in crore)   | Compensation paid by Indian Railways (Approx. in ` )   |
| 2012-13                    | 69                    | 81           | 276          | 54.23                                                                        | 3,18,84,776/-                                          |
| 2013-14                    | 71                    | 54           | 118          | 38.01                                                                        | 1,49,21,759/-                                          |
| 2014-15                    | 85                    | 162          | 372          | 72.07                                                                        | 1,27,48,008/-                                          |
| 2015-16 Upto January, 2016 | 67                    | 64           | 136          | 35.19*                                                                       | 1,66,69,696/-*                                         |

Note:  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. * Provisional figures

(d):  Each and every train accidents on Indian Railways are inquired into either by Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) under the Ministry of

Civil Aviation or Departmental Inquiry Committee of the Railway. During the last three years, i.e. 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15 and in the current year  upto    31 st   January,  2016,  altogether  292  consequential  train accidents (excluding incidents at unmanned level crossings caused due to  negligence  of  road  vehicle  users)  occurred  on  Indian  Railways. Based on the findings as contained in accident inquiry reports and/or is currently  available  as  prima-facie  cause,  204  accidents  were  caused due to failure  of  Railway  Staff,  32  due  to  failure  on  the  part  of  other than Railway staff, 14 due to failure of equipments, 10 due to Sabotage, 01 due to combination of factors, 28 due to incidental factors and no one was held responsible in two cases.  Departmental inquiry  in one accident is underway.

(e):  Safety  is  accorded  the  highest  priority  by  Indian  Railways  and  all possible steps are undertaken on a continual basis to prevent accidents and to enhance safety.  These include timely replacement of over-aged assets, adoption of suitable technologies for upgradation and maintenance of track, rolling stock, signalling and interlocking systems, safety drives, greater emphasis on training of officials and inspections at regular intervals to monitor and educate staff for observance of safe practices.  Safety  devices/systems  being  used  to  prevent  accidents include  complete  track  circuiting,  provision  of  Block  Proving  Axle Counters  (BPAC),  Auxiliary  Warning  System  (AWS),  Colour  Light  LED Signals,  Vigilance  Control  Device  (VCD),  usage  of  60kg  rails  and  Prestressed Concrete Sleepers, long rail panels, better welding technology, progressive use of Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) Coaches, Centre Buffer Couplers with Integral Coach Factory (ICF) Coaches, etc.

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