MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI ADHIR RANJAN CHOWDHURY)
(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 80 BY DR. RAM
CHANDRA DOME, SHRI ARJUN MEGHWAL, SHRI SHIVARAMA GOUDA, SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI, SHRI P. KARUNAKARAN,
SHRI RAJENDRA AGRAWAL AND SHRI JEETENDRA SINGH BUNDELA TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.12.2013 IN LOK
SABHA REGARDING INCREASING RAIL ACCIDENTS.
(a) & (b): The number of consequential train accidents excluding incidents of tresspassing at
unmanned level crossings has decreased consistently from 239 in 2003-04 to 77 in 2011-12 and
further to 68 in 2012-13. In the current year during April to October 2013 also the number of
such consequential train accidents decreased from 41 to 40.
(c): Zone-wise and category-wise number of consequential train accidents i.e. collisions,
derailments, manned level crossings accidents, incidents of fire in train and miscellaneous
accidents during the last six months, i.e., April to October 2013, is as under:
Consequential Train Accidents during April to October, 2013
Railway Collision Derailment Fire Manned Total Level Crossing Accident
Central - 2 - - 2
Eastern 1 2 - - 3
East Central - 2 1 - 3
East Coast 1 2 - - 3
North Central - - 1 1 2
Northeast Frontier - 2 1 - 3
North Western - 2 - - 2
Northern - 5 1 - 6
South Central - 3 - - 3
South Eastern - 1 - - 1
South East Central 1 5 - - 6
Southern - 2 - - 2
West Central - 1 - - 1
Western - 2 - - 2
Konkan - 1 - - 1
Total 3 32 4 1 40
Note: The above consequential train accidents exclude cases of trespassing at unmanned level
crossings caused due to negligence of road vehicle users.
During the last six months, i.e., April to October 2013, 30 cases of passengers travelling
on roof-tops of trains have been reported on Indian Railways.
Zone-wise and cause-wise analysis of the above mentioned consequential train accidents which
took place during the last six months, i.e., April to October, 2013, is as under:
Causes of Consequential Train Accidents during April to October, 2013
Railway Type of Failure Failure Equipment Incidental Sabotage Awaited Total Accident of of other Failure Railway than Staff Railway Staff
Central Derailment 2 2
Eastern Collision 1 1
Eastern Derailment 2 2
East Derailment 2 2
Central Fire - 1 1
East Collision 1 1
Coast Derailment 1 1 2
North Fire 1 1
Central Manned 1 1 Level Crossing Accident
Northeast Derailment 1 1 2
Frontier Fire 1 1
Northern Derailment 4 1 5 Fire 1 1
North Derailment 2 2
Western
South Derailment 1 1 1 3
Central
South Derailment 1 1
Eastern
South Collision 1 1
East Derailment 5 5
Central
Southern Derailment 1 1 2
West Derailment 1 1
Central
Western Derailment 1 1 2
Konkan Derailment 1 1
Total 29 3 1 3 2 2 40
(d): During April to October, 2013, 4 persons including 1 railway employee lost their lives
and 50 persons including 10 railway employees suffered injuries in the above mentioned
consequential train accidents. Loss of railway property in the above consequential train
accidents has been estimated to `21.54 crore (approx.). During this period, 16 persons lost
their lives and 14 persons sustained injuries while travelling on roof-tops of the running trains.
(e): Safety is accorded the highest priority by Indian Railways and all possible steps are
undertaken on a continual basis to prevent accidents and to enhance safety. These include
timely replacement of over-aged assets, adoption of suitable technologies for upgradation and
maintenance of track, rolling stock, signaling and interlocking systems, safety drives and
inspections at regular intervals to monitor and educate staff for observance of safe practices.
Other devices/systems being introduced to prevent accidents include provision of Block Proving
Axle Counters (BPAC), Auxiliary Warning System (AWS), Vigilance Control Device (VCD), Train
Protection Warning System (TPWS), Train Collision Avoidance System/ Anti Collision Device (ACD),
etc.
