MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI K.H. MUNIYAPPA)
(a) to (g): A Statement is attached.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (g) OF THE UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4536 BY
SHRI JAYWANTRAO AWALE AND SHRI MAGUNTA SREENIVASULU REDDY TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON
06-08-2009 REGARDING RAIL ACCIDENTS AND COMPENSATION.
(a): Category-wise number of consequential train accidents during 2006-07, 2007-08,
2008-09 and in the current year from April to July 2009, is as under:
Type of Accident 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 April to July,2009
Collision 8 8 13 2
Derailments 96 100 85 26
Manned Level Crossing 7 12 7 2
Accidents
Unmanned Level 72 65 62 15
Crossing Accidents
Fire in Train 4 5 3 2
Miscellaneous 8 4 7 -
Total 195 194 177 47
(b): Cause-wise number of consequential train accidents during 2006-07, 2007-08,
2008-09 and in the current year from April to July 2009, is as under:
Causes 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 April to July,2009
Failure of Railway 85 87 82 21
Staff
Failure of Other 84 81 71 19
than Railway Staff
Equipment Failure 9 9 2 -
Sabotage 8 7 13 2
Combination of Factors 1 - 1 -
Incidentals 7 8 5 3
Could not be 1 2 3 1
established
Under Investigation - - - 1
Total 195 194 177 47
(c): Number of persons killed /injured, compensation paid and loss of railway property in
consequential train accidents during 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09 and from April to July 2009,
are as under:
2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 April to July, 2009
Killed 208 191 207 54
Injured 402 412 416 45
Amount of Compensation 500.89 121.37 218.94 110.25 (April
paid ( Rupees in lakhs) to June’09)
Loss of railway 3193 4055.40 5850.80 345.73
property (Rupees
in lakhs)
figures are provisional
(d) & (e): Each and every train accident is inquired either by a committee of railway
officers or by the Commission of Railway Safety depending upon the seriousness of the accident.
During the years 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09 and in the current year from April to July 2009,
a total of 613 consequential train accidents took place on Indian Railways. Out of which,
80 were inquired into by the Commission of Railway Safety and balance 533 were inquired into
by the Departmental Committees. Each inquiry establishes the cause and the responsibility.
Recommendations/findings of the Commission of Railway Safety and the Departmental Committees
are examined by the concerned Departments of Indian Railways for compliance if feasible and
disciplinary action is taken against the defaulting staff. During 2006-07 to 2008-09, major
penalties have been awarded to 207 defaulting staff and minor penalties have been awarded to
303 defaulting staff. In the current year from April to June 2009, major penalty has been
awarded to 19 and minor penalty has been awarded to 30 defaulting staff.
(f): Does not arise.
(g): Measures taken by the Railways to prevent accidents include timely replacement of
over-aged assets, adoption of suitable technologies for up-gradation and maintenance of track,
measurement of overstressing of track and bridges, rolling stock, signaling and interlocking
systems, safety drives and inspections at regular intervals to monitor and educate staff for
observance of safe practices. As a result, there has been a declining trend in the number of
accidents from 415 in 2001-02 to 194 in 2007-08 and further to 177 in 2008-09.
