GOVERNMENT OF INDIA RAILWAYS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO:659 ANSWERED ON:16.08.2007 TRAIN ACCIDENTS Annayyagari Shri Sai Prathap;Chowdhury Shri Adhir Ranjan;Jogi Shri Ajit;Manoj Dr. K.S.;Murmu Shri Hemlal;Nikhil Kumar Shri ;Owaisi Shri Asaduddin;Pallani Shamy Shri K.C .;Rao Shri Sambasiva Rayapati;Shakya Shri Raghuraj Singh Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state: (a) the details of train accidents reported since January 2007, their prima-facie reasons, loss of lives and properties and compensation/ex-gratia relief given to victims, accident-wise; (b) the details of inquiries ordered into such accidents alongwith outcome and action taken thereon; (c) whether the Hon'ble Supreme Court has passed stricture against the Railways regarding increasing number of accidents at unmanned level crossings; (d) if so, the action taken by the Railways thereon alongwith the number of level crossings to be manned during the current year, zone- wise; (e) the number of manned and unmanned level crossings in the country as on date alongwith the number of level crossings manned during the last three years, zone-wise; (f) whether consent of State Governments are required for closing level crossing; (g) if so, the response of State Governments thereto; and (h) the steps taken by the Railways to curb train accidents, particularly at unmanned level crossings? Answer MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI R. VELU) (a) to (h): A Statement is attached STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (h) OF THE UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.659 BY SHRI HEMLAL MURMU, SHRI RAYAPATI SAMBASIVA RAO, SHRI RAGHURAJ SINGH SHAKYA, SHRI NIKHIL KUMAR, SHRI ADHIR CHOWDHURY, SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI, SHRI AJIT JOGI, DR. K.S. MANOJ, SHRI K.C.PALLANISHAMY, SHRI A. SAI PRATHAP AND SHRI M. APPADURAI TO BE ANSWERED IN THE LOK SABHA ON 16.08.2007 REGARDING TRAIN ACCIDENTS. (a) & (b): There have been 106 consequential train accidents on Indian Railways during the period from January to July, 2007, in which 128 persons lost their lives. Loss of railway property on account of these accidents has been estimated to be Rs. 26.53 crores (approx.). A sum of Rs. 5.10 lakhs (approx.), as ex-gratia, has been paid in cases where admissible. Compensation, however, is payable after the claim cases are filed and awarded by the Claims Tribunals. Out of these 106 accidents, 14 cases are being enquired into by the respective Commissioners of Railway Safety, and in case of remaining 92, departmental inquiry committees were constituted. Depending upon findings of the inquiry reports, so far finalized, action as warranted is in progress including punitive action under Discipline and Appeal Rules against those found responsible. Accident-wise details are at Appendix. (c): No, Sir. (d): Does not arise. However, Railways have targeted manning of 447 unmanned level crossings during 2007-08 and the zone-wise break-up is as under:- Railway Zone Target for Manning during 2007-08 Central 3 Eastern 1 East Central 10 East Coast 0 Northern 100 North Central 20 North Eastern 17 North East Frontier 6 North Western 54 Southern 100 South Central 20 South Eastern 6 South East Central 15 South Western 30 Western 55 West Central 10 TOTAL 447 (e): Zone-wise number of manned and unmanned level crossings over Indian Railways as on 01.04.2006 and the number of level crossings manned during last three years is as under: RAILWAY MANNED UNMANNED@ No. of unmanned LCs manned during last three years 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 Central 932 503 0 06 0 Eastern 912 379 11 11 1 Northern 2333 2021 10 43 24 North Eastern 1008 1729 24 21 28 North East 673 1092 06 14 08 Frontier Southern 1714 1333 05 51 49 South Central 1241 1373 15 37 12 South Eastern 414 964 04 02 03 Western 1743 2901 04 26 29 East Central 962 879 21 10 5 East Coast 437 985 20 22 14 North Central 1009 625 24 02 9 North Western 1320 1414 18 05 21 SouthEast 405 821 13 19 12 Central SouthWestern 617 913 12 22 17 WestCentral 880 365 03 0 04 Total 16600 18297 190 291 236 @ excluding 'D' class cattle crossings and canal crossings. (f) & (g): Yes Sir. Railways are required to obtain consent of the State Government authorities before closing a level crossing. However, the response of the State Governments is not always very encouraging. (h): The important steps undertaken to prevent accidents at unmanned level crossings include provision of levelled road surface, approaches with suitable gradients, provision of road sign boards and speed breakers/rumble strips on approaches to level crossings, whistle boards alongside the rail track on approach to level crossings and progressive manning of unmanned level crossings based on laid down criteria. Public awareness programmes for educating road users for observing safe practices while negotiating unmanned level crossings are also launched periodically through various means including advertisement on television, newspapers, street plays, etc., and joint ambush checks are conducted with the involvement of civil authorities. Emphasis is also being given to close down less used unmanned level crossings, merging them with another level crossing in the close vicinity, or by constructing 'Limited Use Subways' wherever feasible in lieu of existing level crossings with lower Train Vehicle Units (TVUs). # Figures are provisional. Appendix referred to in reply to parts (a) and (b) of Unstarred Question No. 659 be answered in the Lok Sabha on 16.08.2007. S. No. Date of Type of Railway Section Train No. Brief particulars Casualty Cost of Ex- Prima facie Cause Type of inquiry Findings /Outcome Responsibility D & AR Action taken Accident accident Killed Inju- Damage gratia/ of accident red Compe- nsation 1 01.01.07 Unmanned Level Northern Jakhal-Hissar 7L JH Passenger One Tractor dashed 1 0 0 Negligence of road Departmental Negligence of road users. Road users. Not applicable. Crossing against train user 2 04.01.07 Derailment Northeast New Jalpaiguri- Up HBN Goods Seven wagons 15619684 0 Sabotage Departmental Sabotage Miscreants Not applicable. Frontier Alipurduar derailed Railway 3 05.01.07 Collision Western Vadodara-Godhra Dn GIM-SHM Dn TKD Goods dashed 2 45190000 0 Negligence of on Departmental Failure of Railway staff Switchman, SSE TI - With Holding Goods & Dn in rear of Gandhidham- duty switchman (Signal), MCF, of increment for 2 TKD Goods Shalimar Goods and failure of lever Station Master, Years, ASM- With lock of Dn Home CSI, Driver, Holding of increment signal which led Asst.Driver, TI for 1 Year, Remaining to interlocking and ASM. under process. failure 4 10.01.07 Derailment Eastern Rampurhat- Coal Goods Train engine & 4 1137626 0 Running of train Departmental Failure of Railway staff Driver and Asst . Reduction of pay for Gumani wagons derailed without continuity Driver, Two Guards 3 staff and remaining of air pressure and Four Shuntmen under process 5 12.01.07 Derailment East Central Barkakana- Up Panipat Banker engine & 8 7 10807000 0 Yet to be established CRS Awaited Garba Road Goods 4 wagons derailed 6 14.01.07 Derailment South Western Hassan- Triple Light Three engines 40150000 0 Track defect Departmental Failure of Railway staff SE/Pway, Two Gangmen, SE/Pway - Reduction Mangalore Engine derailed Driver and Asst. of Pay by one stage Driver for two years, Gangman- Under process, Driver & Asst Driver- With Holding of increment for two years. 7 20.01.07 Derailment North Central Manikpur-Banda Up Mela Special Train engine 5000 0 Overspeeding and Departmental Failure of Railway staff Driver Witholding of increament derailed sudden braking by for three years Driver 8 21.01.07 Unmanned Level Northern Jammu Tawi- 8102 Express One Tata Sumo 2 7 0 0 Negligence of Departmental Negligence of road users. Road users. Not applicable. Crossing Pathankot dashed agins road user the train engine 9 21.01.07 Unmanned Level South Central Nadikudi- 2719 Express Unknown vehicle 1 4 0 35000 Infringement by CRS Negligence of road users. Road users. Not applicable. Crossing Pagidipalli infringed movement unknown vehicle of train 10 24.01.07 Manned Level Northeast Barsoi-New Up NBQ Goods One truck dahsed 1 4 30000 6500 Initally LC gate CRS Failure of Railway staff Driver, Asst. Driver Under Process Crossing Frontier Jalpaiguri against the train was closed & then and Gateman. Railway engine it was opened to clear the traffic while the Driver of goods train passed through the gate and dashed with the truck 11 24.01.07 Unmanned Level Northern Ludhiana- 4 LF Passenger One Maruti car 3 0 0 0 Negligence of Departmental Negligence of road users. Road users. Not applicable. Crossing Ferozepur dahsed against road user the train engine 12 27.01.07 Derailment East Coast Bolangir- N/LPG Goods 12 wagons derailed 17590458 0 Negligence of Departmental Negligence of private Private siding owner Not applicable. Railway Jharsuguda private siding owner siding owner (M/S Bhusan Steel) 13 28.01.07 Derailment Southern Jolarpettai- 2674 Express 5 coaches derailed 10 4788000 5000 Hot axle CRS Equipment failure No Railway staff Not applicable. Katpadi held responsible 14 01.02.07 Derailment South Western Raydurg- 584 Passenger 1 coach derailed 99900 0 Premature operation Departmental Failure of Railway staff Station Master and TRH Reduction in lower Chikjajur of points grade with loss of seniority for six months 15 03.02.07 Unmanned Level Northern Delhi-Shamli- 1 SSD Passenger One truck dashed 1 4 500 0 Negligence of Departmental Negligence of road users. Road users. Not applicable. Crossing Saharanpur against train engine road user 16 03.02.07 Unmanned Level Southern Manamadurai- 854 Passenger One tractor trolley 1 38837 0 Negligence of Departmental Negligence of road users.