Lok Sabha Question No. 6050 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-04-01
Subject: Compensation for Victims of Rail Accidents
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Abdul Rashid Sheikh, Shri Anto Antony

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 6050

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.04.2026

## COMPENSATION FOR VICTIMS OF RAIL ACCIDENTS

6050. SHRI ANTO ANTONY: SHRI ABDUL RASHID SHEIKH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  number  of  train  accidents  reported  in  the  country  during  the  last five years, year-wise;
- (b)  the  number  of  persons  injured,  died  and  casualties  reported  in  these accidents during the such period, year-wise;
- (c)  the  total  amount  of  financial  compensation  announced  for  victims  of these accidents during such period;
- (d)  the number of ex-gratia/relief to the victims/family of victims;
- (e) the details of victims/families who  have received the financial assistance so far in those accidents; and
- (f)  whether there are pending cases where compensation has not yet been disbursed and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND

## ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a)  to  (f):  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.

Number  of  Consequential  Train  Accidents  has  reduced  as  shown  in  the table below:-

| Year                      | Consequential Accidents   |
|---------------------------|---------------------------|
| 2014-15                   | 135                       |
| 2025-26 (upto 25.03.2026) | 15 (89% lesser)           |

Another important index showing improvement in safety in train operations is Consequential Accident Index, the details of which are as under:-

## Consequential Accident Index:-

| Year                          | Accident Index    |
|-------------------------------|-------------------|
| 2014-15                       | 0.11              |
| 2024-25                       | 0.03 (73% lesser) |
| 2025-26 (upto February, 2026) | 0.01              |

This index measures number of consequential accidents as a ratio of total running kilometers of all trains.

No. of consequential accidents

No. of trains X million kilometers run

2025-26

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Consequential Train Accidents on Indian Railways and casualties (including railway passengers and railway personnel) therein are as follows:-

| Period             | No. of Consequential Train Accidents   |   No. of Deaths | No. of Injuries   |
|--------------------|----------------------------------------|-----------------|-------------------|
| 2004-05 to 2013-14 | 1,711                                  |             904 | 3,155             |

Accident Index   =

| 2014-15 to 2023-24             |   678 |   748 |   2,087 |
|--------------------------------|-------|-------|---------|
| 2024-25                        |    31 |    18 |      92 |
| 2025-26(upto 25 th March 2026) |    15 |    16 |      28 |

The various safety measurestaken to enhance safety in train operations are as under:-

1. On Indian Railways, the expenditure on Safety related activities has increased over the years as under:-
2. Electrical/Electronic  Interlocking  Systems  with  centralized  operation of  points  and  signals  have  been  provided  at  6,665  stations  up  to 28.02.2026 to reduce accidents due to human failure.
3. Interlocking of Level Crossing (LC) Gates has been provided at 10,153 Level  Crossing  Gates  up  to  28.02.2026  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  6,669 stations up to 28.02.2026.
5. Indian Railways has gone for implementation of indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system, which required safety certification  of  highest  order  (SIL  4).  Kavach  has  been  adopted  as  a National  ATP  system  in  July  2020.  Based  on  deployment  of  Kavach

| Year    | Expenditure/Budget on Safety related activities (Rs. in Cr.)   |
|---------|----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2013-14 | 39,200                                                         |
| 2022-23 | 87,336                                                         |
| 2023-24 | 1,01,662                                                       |
| 2024-25 | 1,14,022                                                       |
| 2025-26 | 1,17,693                                                       |
| 2026-27 | 1,20,389                                                       |

version  3.2  on  1,465  RKm  on  South  Central  Railway  and  experience gained, further improvements were made. Finally, Kavach specification version 4.0 was approved by RDSO on 16.07.2024. After extensive and elaborate trials, Kavach Version 4.0 has been successfully commissioned  on  1,638  Route  Kilometres,  covering  the  highdensity Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Howrah routes as below:

| S. No.   | Section                                           | Progress (Route Km)   |
|----------|---------------------------------------------------|-----------------------|
| (1)      | Delhi-Mumbai route:                               | Delhi-Mumbai route:   |
| i        | Junction cabin - Palwal - Mathura - Nagda section | 667                   |
| ii       | Vadodara -Ahmedabad section                       | 96                    |
| iii      | Vadodara - Virar section                          | 336                   |
| (2)      | Delhi - Howrah route:                             | Delhi - Howrah route: |
| i        | Gaya Sarmatanr section                            | 93                    |
| ii       | Chota Ambana-Bardhaman - Howrah section           | 260                   |
| iii.     | Subedarganj - Kanpur                              | 186                   |

Further, track side Kavach implementation work has been taken up on 24,427 RKM covering all GQ, GD, HDN and identified sections of Indian Railways.

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.
11. 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 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.
13. Maximizing  supply  of  130m/260m  long  rail  panels  for  increasing progress  of  rail  renewal  and  avoiding  welding  of  joints,  thereby 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 based upon the conditions assessed during these inspections.
26. 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.
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.
28. 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                               | 2014-25 Vs. 2004-14     |
|--------|-----------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|-------------------------|
|        | 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 Nos.                      | 288 times               |
| 5.     | Thick Web Switches (Nos.)                                 | Nil                     | 28,301 Nos.                                      |                         |
|        | 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                   |                         |                                                  |                         |
| 1.     | New Track KM added (Track Km)                             | 14,985 Km               | 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: 8,948   | 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      |

## Compensation & Ex-Gratia

Accidents victims are paid ex-gratia relief soon after an accident or untoward incident. Total amount of ex-gratia paid by the Railways to the next of kin of deceased and injured in train accidents during the last five years (2020-21 to 2024-25) is Rs. 39.48 Crores.

Compensation  for  death  and  injury  of  railway  passengers  in  train accidents  and  untoward  incidents,  as  defined  under  Section  124 and Section 124-A (read with Section 123) of the Railways Act, 1989, is decided by Railway Claims Tribunal (RCT) on the basis of a claim application filed by  the  victims/their  dependents  before  RCT  and  it  disposes  of  the  cases after  following  the  due  judicial  process.  Railway  Administration  pays compensation when a decree is awarded by Hon'ble RCT in favour of the claimant  and  Railways  decide  to  implement  the  decree.  Compensation amount is over and above the ex-gratia amount.

The amount of compensation paid by the Railways to the next of kin of deceased and injured in train accidents during the last five years (202021 to 2024-25) is Rs. 30.53 Crores.

It  may  be  noted  that  the  compensation  paid  in  a  year  need  not necessarily  relate  to  the  accidents/casualities  in  that  year  alone.  The amount  paid  in  a  year  depends  upon  the  number  of  cases  finalized  by Railway Claims Tribunals (RCTs) or other Courts of Law in a particular year irrespective of the year(s) in which the accident, have occurred.

Compensation is paid within 30 days after the receipt of judgment.

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