MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI O. RAJAGOPAL)
(a) to (c) A statement is attached.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2806 ASKED BY SHRI RAMCHANDRA PASWAN
AND SHRI DINESH CHANDRA YADAV TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON
09.08.2001 REGARDING ACCIDENT AT LEVEL CROSSING.
(a) & (b) : No, Sir. However, on 30.05.2001, there was
an accident of dashing of Bus with Train Engine of 175 Up
Passenger train while passing through unmanned level
crossing between Gola Gokaran Nath & Razaganj stations on
Sitapur-Mailani section on Lucknow Division on North Eastern
Railway. Casualties in this accidents are as under:-
Killed - 22 (All Bus occupants) Grievously Injured - 7 Simple Injuries - 24
Accidents at unmanned level crossings are primarily due
to negligence of road users, since a train travelling at
high speed cannot be stopped all of a sudden when a road
vehicle comes on the track. A train traveling at 90 KMPH
covers 25 m/sec. Thus, although to the road users the train
appears to be 150 metres away, in terms of time it is only 6
seconds away. This message is being conveyed to them
progressively by various publicity measures.
(c) : Following steps have been taken to avoid such type of accidents :-
1. Proper Road Signs have been provided on approaches
to level crossings so that road vehicle drivers
become aware of the existence of a level crossing
gate.
2. Speed breakers/rumble strips have been provided on
approaches to level crossing gates so that road
vehicle drivers are reminded to reduce their
speed.
3. Whistle boards are also provided alongside the
rail track on approach to level crossings. Train
drivers are required to whistle from the whistle
board till such time as the train passes the level
crossing gate in order to warn road users about
the approaching train. Periodic drives are
launched for checking whether drivers are actually
whistling from such whistle boards.
4. To educate road drivers about safety at unmanned
level crossings, publicity campaigns are
periodically launched through various media like
quickies on TV, cinema slides, posters, talks on
radio, newspaper advertisements and street plays.
5. Since accidents at unmanned level crossings take
place due to negligence of road users, the State
Governments can also help by exercising strict
checks while issuing driving licences, specially
to drivers of trucks, buses and other heavy
vehicles. All State Governments have been
requested to co-operate in educating road users.
6. Joint Ambush Checks with civil authorities are
conducted to nab errant road vehicle drivers under
the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and
the Railways Act, 1989.
7. Involvement of village Panchayats in the railways
public awareness programs is also being done.
8. Permission has been received from some of the
State Governments for putting up L-xing Safety
posters at Village Panchayat Offices.
9. Permission has also been received from IOC/HPC/BPC
for putting up L-Xing Safety posters at retail
petrol pumps.
