(a) whether the eight coaches of 2121 Bilaspur Passenger train got derailed due to blowing up of the railway lines in the West Singhbhumi district of Jharkhand by the Maoists in November, 2009 wherein some people were killed and many were injured; and
(b) if so, the details of causalties reported and the concrete steps being taken by the Railways to contain the menace of the Maoists?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI K.H. MUNIYAPPA)
(a) & (b): A Statement is attached.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) AND (b) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4425 BY SHRIMATI
JAYSHREEBEN PATEL TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 22-04-2010 REGARDING DERAILMENT OF PASSENGER
TRAIN.
(a): Yes, Madam. On 19-11-2009 at 21.10 hrs., while the Train No.321 Up Tata-Bilaspur Passenger(and not 2121) was on run between Posoita and Manoharpur stations on Tatanagar-Rourkela section of
Chakradharpur Division, its both locomotives and 8 coaches derailed due to bomb blast on the track
by miscreants.
(b): As a result of the accident, 2 passengers lost their lives, 8 sustained grievous injuries
and 19 passengers suffered simple injuries. Law and order being a state subject, Railways
primarily depend upon assistance and co-operation of State Governments to protect railway
passengers and railway property. However, following measures are being taken to ensure safe
and secure journey to the passengers:-
1. Nominated trains are escorted by Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway
Police (GRP) on the vulnerable sections/areas.
2. All concerned are alerted to take adequate preventive and precautionary measures to
maintain extra vigil.
3. Deployment of Police personnel is made at strategic points, besides regular deployment.
4. In addition, checks are also conducted by Gazetted Officers.
5. Close co-ordination is maintained with Government Railway Police (GRP) and District
Police.
6. Intelligence Wings of Railway Protection Force are utilized to gather information on
regular basis about the activities of extremist groups in coordination with State Police,
Intelligence agencies.
7. An integrated security system has been approved to strengthen surveillance mechanism
over 202 sensitive and vulnerable stations of Indian Railways.
8. Recently, a high level co-ordination meeting with the State Home Secretaries, senior
officials of Ministry of Home Affairs, Intelligence Bureau and Railways was held on 21-01-2010
at Rail Bhawan to improve security on Railways.