Question : Dehradun-Varanasi Train Accident

(a) whether the Railways are aware of the recent incident of Dehradun-Varanasi Janata Express jumped the track and killed 31 passengers and injured many more;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the reasons for the accident;

(c) whether any ex-gratia have been given to the kin of the deceased and severely injured in the said accident and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Railways ordered any probe over the incident; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI MANOJ SINHA)


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

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 975 BY SHRI VENKATESH BABU T.G. TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 27.07.2015 REGARDING DEHRADUN-VARANASI TRAIN ACCIDENT.

(a) & (b): On 20.03.2015 at about 09.10 hours, while the train No.14266 Dehradun-Varanasi Express was being received in line No. 1 (Loop Line) at Bachhrawan station on Lucknow-Rae Bareli single line non-electrified section of Lucknow Division for its scheduled stoppage, the Loco Pilot of the train engine overshot the Signal and entered into the sand hump causing derailment of train engine and two coaches including second class-cum-luggage coach. In this unfortunate accident, 39 passengers lost their lives, 24 passengers suffered grievous injuries and 14 passengers suffered simple injuries. As per the Preliminary report of the Commissioner of Railway Safety, South Central Circle under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the derailment was caused due to the failure of Train No. 14266 Dn. Express to stop at the starter signal on the Loop Line which was ‘RED’. The train could not be controlled on account of non-functioning of train brakes from the locomotive due to discontinuity of brake pipe pressure between the train engine and the trailing load of passenger coaches. The accident has been classified under the category of ‘Error in Train working’.

(c): Hon’ble Minister of Railways announced an enhanced ex-gratia of ` 2 Lakhs to the next of kin of each deceased, ` 50,000/- to each grievously injured passenger and ` 20,000/- to each simple injured passenger. An amount of ` 74 Lakhs was paid to the relatives of 37 deceased passengers and an amount of ` 14.40 lakhs was paid to 24 passengers with grievous injuries and 12 passengers with simple injuries. Ex-gratia payment could not be made to relatives of two deceased passengers due to non -identification and two passengers with simple injuries who had left hospital without information.
(d) & (e): Statutory inquiry of this accident was conducted by Commissioner of Railway Safety, South Central Circle under the Ministry of Civil Aviation. Commissioner of Railway Safety, South Central Circle, in his provisional findings has observed that the derailment was caused due to the failure of Train No. 14266 Dn. Express to stop at the starter signal on the Loop Line which was ‘RED’. The train could not be controlled on account of non-functioning of train brakes from the locomotive due to discontinuity of brake pipe pressure between the train engine and the trailing load of passenger coaches. The accident has been classified under the category of ‘Error in Train working’.
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