(a) whether large number of passengers were burnt alive when Secunderabad – Kakinada Gautami
Express caught fire near Warangal in Andhra Pradesh as reported in all the newspapers recently;
(b) if so, the details of casualties occurred and whether any preliminary investigation
into the cause of the accident has been done;
(c) if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the steps taken by the Government to prevent such accidents in future?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (DR. R. VELU)
(a) to (d) : A statement is attached.
STATEMENT REFFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (d) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1908 BY SHRIMATI
JAYAPRADA, SHRI MOHD. TAHIR, SHRI KAILISH NATH SINGH YADAV & SHRI SHSHUPAL N. PATLE TO BE
ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 11.12.2008 REGARDING INCIDENT OF FIRE IN GAUTAMI EXPRESS.
(a) to (c):
(i) 31 passengers died due to fire in Gautami Express on 01.08.2008.
(ii) Commissioner for Railway Safety, Secunderabad has conducted statutory enquiry into the
cause of fire. He has passed the following remarks in his preliminary report –
(1) The fire in the coaches of Train No. 2738 Gautami Express between Kesamudram-
Tadalapusalapalli Railway stations in Kazipet-Vijayawada double line, Broad-Gauge electrified
section of Secunderabad Division of South Central Railway appears to be due to some unidentified
highly combustible substance (in liquid or solid form) present in the S-10 coach, which was
kept there by some unidentified person or persons while the train was running at a speed of
75 kilometers per hour, the fire appeared to have originated from the floor level, at Nekkonda.
(2) The accident falls under the Category “failure of person/persons other than Railway staffâ€.
(iii) Government Railway Police/ Warangal have also registered a case vide CR No. 191/2008
under classification-accidental fire and under section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Code dated
01.08.2008. It is under investigation with the Deputy Superintendent / Railway Police.
d):
# Frequent drives are conducted against carrying of inflammable materials and
dangerous goods in trains and cases are registered under section 164 of the
Railways Act by the Railway Protection Force.
# Regular checks are conducted against smoking in trains and cases are registered
under section 167 of the Railways Act by the Railway Protection Force.
# Railways are providing fire extinguishers under the charge of the Guard
in the Rear Second-class Luggage Room and in Air conditioned coaches for fire
fighting in case of any incident.
# Traveling public is being briefed/educated through Mega phones
and public address system not to carry inflammable articles on trains.
# Surprise checks are being conducted on the two-wheelers booked for
transportation on trains and action is being taken if vehicles are found with petrol.
# All train escorting staff as well as station duty staff are briefed to
inform the nearest fire service station to meet eventuality, whenever fire
incidents are reported on running trains.
# Wide publicity is being given through print/electronic media against
the danger of carrying inflammable articles/explosives in trains.