Lok Sabha Question No. 1071 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-02
Subject: Fire Incidents
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: KIRTI (JHA) AZAD

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1071 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.03.2016

## FIRE INCIDENTS

1071.  SHRI KIRTI AZAD:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of incidents of  fire in train coaches that have been reported in the last two years along with the number of people injured and/or dead in such incidents;
- (b) whether  the  Railways  in  aware  that  against  the  target  of reducing  fire  accidents  by  80%  from  2001-02  by  2013,  as envisaged under the Corporate Safety Plan and Indian Railways Vision 2020, the number of fire accidents has gone up by 160% in the same time span;
- (c) if so, the reasons therefor; and
- (d) the  steps  being  taken  to  prevent  incidents  of  fire  accidents  in train coaches?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

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

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.1071  BY  SHRI KIRTI AZAD  TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 02.03.2016 REGARDING FIRE INCIDENTS.

(a) :  Details of number of fire accidents in trains are indicated below.

| Year                   | No. of Fire Accidents on trains   | No. of passengers lost life   | No. of passengers grievously injured   |
|------------------------|-----------------------------------|-------------------------------|----------------------------------------|
| 2013-14                | 7                                 | 35                            | 05                                     |
| 2014-15                | 6                                 | Nil                           | Nil                                    |
| 2015-16 till 31.01.16. | Nil                               | Nil                           | Nil                                    |

- (b) & (c):  As per corporate safety plan (2003-2013) it was targeted to reduce fire accidents on the trains from 14 to 3 by the year 201213.  In  the  year  2012-13,  9  fire  accidents  took  place  on  trains. Thus, there has been a reduction of 35% in the fire accidents on trains  over  the  same  period(2003-13).  This  declining  trend  is continuing in the current year & till 31.01.2016 there has not been a single case of fire accident on train.
- (d):  Followings  steps  are  being  taken  on  Indian  Railways  to  prevent fire accident in trains:-
-  Indian Railways have always endeavoured to enhance fire worthiness of coaches by using fire retardant furnishing materials to mitigate effect of fire. Specifications for such  furnishing materials  have  been  periodically  reviewed  to  incorporate  fire retardant  parameters  in  line  with  UIC  (International  Union  of Railways) and other  international  norms.  All  new  manufacture of coaches/periodical   overhauling  of  existing  coaches  is  being

- carried  out  with  fire  retardant  specifications  of  the  furnishing materials wherever condition based replacements are warranted.
-  Fire extinguishers are being provided in all Air-conditioned coaches, Second class-cum-guard and luggage vans, Pantry cars and train locomotives.
-  Improved materials for electrical fittings and fixtures such as MCB (Miniature Circuit Breaker), light fittings, terminal boards, connectors etc., are being used progressively.
-  A  pilot  project  for  provision  of  Comprehensive  Fire  and  Smoke Detection  System  has  been  taken  up  in  one  rake  of  New  DelhiBhubaneswar Rajdhani Express on East Coast Railway.  Besides, one LHB (Linke Hofmann Busch) rake in New Delhi-Jammu Tawi Rajdhani  train  and  one  AC  Double  Decker  rake  running  between Kachiguda-Tirupati/Guntur  have  also  been  provided  with  such  a system.  Based  on  the  feedback  from  initial  trails,  Board  has sanctioned for extended field trails in 2750 coaches.
-  Water  mist  type  fire  suppression  system  is  being  provided  on power cars in phased manner.
-  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  (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) fittings in the pantry cars.
-  Intensive publicity campaigns to prevent the travelling public from carrying inflammable goods are regularly undertaken.
-  Frequent drives against carrying of inflammable/dangerous articles in trains as well as station premises are undertaken.

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