(a) whether Delhi - Guwahati Rajdhani Express derailed on Barauni- Katihar rail section;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the number of passengers injured in the accident;
(c) whether any probe has been ordered into this derailment;
(d) if so, the outcome of the said probe; and
(e) the steps being taken by the Railways to prevent recurrence of such incidents?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI K.H. MUNIYAPPA)
(a) to (e): A statement is attached.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF THE UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.913 BY
SHRIMATI MEENA SINGH TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 29-07-2010 REGARDING DERAILMENT OF
RAJDHANI EXPRESS.
(a) & (b): Yes, Madam. On 25-05-2010 at 06.35 hours, fourteen coaches of Delhi-Guwahati
Rajdhani Express (train No.2424) derailed between Kharik - Naugachhia stations of Barauni -
Katihar section of Sonepur Division of East Central Railway. In this accident, two passengers
sustained simple injuries.
(c) & (d): Yes, Madam. Statutory inquiry into the above accident is being conducted by
the Commissioner of Railway Safety, Eastern Circle and its report is awaited.
(e): Measures taken by the Indian Railways to prevent derailments include :-
(i) Use of long welded rails in place of fish plated joints,
(ii) Use of modern track maintenance machines, namely, Tie Tamping, Ballast Cleaning Machines,
Track Recording Cars, Ultrasonic Flaw Detectors, Self Propelled Ultrasonic Rail Testing Cars, etc.,
(iii) Progressive phasing out of four wheeler tank wagons,
(iv) Regular patrolling of railway tracks at vulnerable locations including night patrolling
and intensifying patrolling during foggy weather,
(v) Modern bridge inspection and management system, etc.