Lok Sabha Question No. 3344 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-10
Subject: Train Accidents due to Short Circuits
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: NANDI YELLAIAH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3344 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.08.2015

## TRAIN ACCIDENTS DUE TO SHORT CIRCUITS

3344.  SHRI NANDI YELLAIAH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there are incidents of train accidents due to short circuits in trains and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the  number of persons killed in rail accidents due to short circuits during the last three years; and
- (c) the steps taken/ being taken by the Railways to avert such accidents?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

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

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (c)  OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  3344  BY  SHRI  NANDI  YELLAIAH  TO  BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 10.08.2015 REGARDING TRAIN ACCIDENTS DUE TO SHORT CIRCUITS

(a) & (b):  During the last three years, i.e. 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15 and in the current year  (upto 15 th  July, 2015), two consequential train accidents of fire due to short circuits occurred over Indian Railways, the details of which are as under:

1. On 14.01.2013 at about 21.00 hrs, four coaches of train No. 11123 Barauni-Gwalior Mail caught fire at Moth Station in Kanpur-Jhansi Section  of  North  Central  Railway.  The  clear  cause  of  fire  in  the train could not be established in the findings of Senior Administrative  Grade  Level  Inquiry  Committee.    However  the Inquiry  Committee  observed  that  there  is  a  possibility  of  spark from  a  loose  connection  falling  on  waste  material  in  the  coach leading to the instant fire.
2. On 15.10.2013 at 03.50 hrs, while the train No. 12435 Dibrugarh Town-New Delhi Rajdhani Express was passing through Dharamtul  station  on  Lumding-Guwahati  Section  of  Lumding Division  of  Northeast  Frontier  Railway,  smoke  was  observed coming out from the Pantry Car of the train. As per the findings of the Junior Administrative Grade Level Departmental Inquiry

Committee,  the  incident  of  fire  in  Pantry  Car  occurred  due  to short circuit from the refrigerator.

There was no casualty in these two train accidents.

(c):  Railways have been advised to follow the guidelines of Research Designs  and  Standards  Organization  for  fire  prevention  for  110  V  DC self generating coaches as per Code of Practice.

Following  measures  are  also  being  taken  by  Indian  Railways  to prevent incidents of fire in trains:

-  Indian  Railways  have  always  endeavoured  to  enhance  fire worthiness of coaches by using fire retardant furnishing materials  such    as  Compreg  Board/PVC  for  coach  flooring, laminated sheets for roof,  ceiling  wall  and  partition  panelling, Rexene  and  cushioning  material  for  seats  and  berths,  FRP Windows and UIC Vestibule etc. Fire related properties of these materials are being upgraded from time to time.
-  Railways  have  also  taken  measures  to  prevent  fire  due  to electrical short circuits in coaches, which include (a) Multi tier electrical protection system and use of fire retardant cables in all  coaches  working  on  Indian  Railways  for  prevention  of  fire due  to  any  electrical  defect,  (b)  separation  of  positive  and
- negative wires, (c)  use of fire retardant material in all electrical items.
-  Portable dry chemical powder type fire extinguishers are being provided  in  all  air-conditioned  coaches,  second  class  -  cum  guard  and  luggage  van,  power  cars,  pantry  cars  and  train locomotives in all mainline trains.
-  Detailed  instructions  have  been  issued  to  zonal  railways  for observance of safe practices in handling of pantry cars and for ensuring periodical inspection of electrical and LPG fittings in the pantry cars.

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