Lok Sabha Question No. 1825 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-27
Subject: Travel on Rooftop
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: KAMAL NATH, JYOTIRADITYA MADHAVRAO SCINDIA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1825 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.07.2016

## TRAVEL ON ROOFTOP

1825. SHRI KAMAL NATH: SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether a large number of people found travelling on the rooftop of some of the trains resulting in casualties;
- (b) if so, whether the Supreme Court has recently directed Railways to pay compensation of Rs.1 crore to the victims who travelled on the rooftop  of  the  trains  and  either  killed  or  severely  injured  due  to collision at railway over-bridges;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Railways has taken any steps to prevent travelling on rooftops of any of the train across the country; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (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.1825  BY  SHRI  KAMAL  NATH  AND  SHRI JYOTIRADITYA  M.  SCINDIA  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON 27.07.2016 REGARDING TRAVEL ON ROOFTOP

- (a) The  details  of  people  found  travelling  on  rooftop,  arrested  and  died during the years 2013, 2014 and 2015 are as under:-
- (b)  and  (c):  Hon'ble  Supreme  Court  of  India  in  its  judgment  dated 05.07.2016  relating  to  an  incident  that  occurred  on  01.02.2011  near Mohammadabad  Crossing  in  Shahjahanpur,  Uttar  Pradesh  has  directed Railway Administration to pay:
1. Compensation of ` 5 lakhs to the next of kin in case of every death;
2. Compensation of ` 1.5  lakhs  in  every  case  of  permanent  disability suffered by anyone in the incident;
3. Compensation of ` 75,000/- in case of any grievous injury suffered by anyone; and
4. Compensation  of ` 25,000/-  in  case  of  simple  injury  suffered  by anyone.
- (d)  and  (e):  Following  steps  are  being  taken  by  Railways  to  prevent passengers travelling on rooftop of trains:-
1. Frequent announcements through public address system at stations are made to educate passengers not to travel on roof, footboard of the trains.

|   Year |   Number of person arrested while travelling on the rooftop of train |   Number of person died due to travelling on rooftop of trains |
|--------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|
|   2013 |                                                                 3214 |                                                             44 |
|   2014 |                                                                 3442 |                                                             45 |
|   2015 |                                                                 3060 |                                                             29 |

2. Special  awareness  campaigns  are  also  organized  by  Railways  to sensitize the passengers about the dangers of rooftop and footboard travelling.
3. Warning  boards  cautioning  people  against  climbing  and  touching Over  Head  Equipments  are  displayed  at  vantage  points  in  station area.
4. Regular  drives  are  conducted  against  the  persons  travelling  on rooftop  and  footboard  on  trains  and  the  persons  apprehended  are prosecuted under the relevant provisions of the Railways Act, 1989.
5. To  prevent  climbing  upon  the  rooftop  of  any  train,  ladder  was removed from the end panel of all coaches.

*****