Question : INSURANCE FOR RAIL PASSENGERS

(a) whether the Railways provide any insurance cover to its passengers and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Railways propose to introduce insurance scheme for railway passengers in collaboration with Government Insurance companies in order to reduce the insurance claim burden on Railways;

(c) if so, the details thereof along with the rate of premium likely to be collected with railway tickets; and

(d) if not, the measures taken by the Railways to provide financial assistance to the next of kin of the victims who lost their lives or the passengers who lost their luggage while travelling in trains?

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS (SHRI SURESH PRABHAKAR PRABHU)

(a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of th House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF STARRED QUESTION NO. 414 BY SHRI PONGULETI SRINIVASA REDDY AND SHRI GANGA RAJU TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 22.12.2014 REGARDING INSURANCE FOR RAIL PASSENGERS

(a) No, Madam. Presently, there is no provision of any insurance cover to railway passengers.

(b) No, Madam. Presently, there is no proposal to introduce insurance scheme for railway passengers.

(c) Does not arise.

(d) Payment of compensation to the victims of train accidents or untoward incidents does not get affected whether insurance cover is available or not. Railways carry their liability towards payment of compensation/ex-gratia from their own resources. Accident victims are paid two types of payments, viz. ex-gratia/enhanced ex-gratia and Compensation. Relief given by the Railway Administration soon after an accident or untoward incident is an ex- gratia payment.

In terms of Section 125 of the Railways Act, 1989, for death/ injury in train accidents/untoward incidents, as defined under Section 124/124-A of the Railways Act, 1989, the claimant has to file an application for compensation in the Railway Claims Tribunal, which is a quasi judicial body, independent from the Railways. The amount of compensation is decided by the Tribunal in terms of Railway Accidents and Untoward Incidents (Compensation) Rules, 1997 by awarding a decree. The amount of compensation is paid by the Railways if the decree so awarded by the Tribunal is decided to be satisfied by the Railways. The maximum compensation on death is Rs. 4 lakh and depending on the gravity of injury the compensation varies from Rs.32,000 to Rs. 4 lakh. In case of train accidents, compensation for loss, damage of luggage, owned by the passenger and accompanying him in his compartment or on the train is also payable, if decreed by the Railway Claims Tribunal (RCT). No fee is charged for filing claim for compensation in train accident/untoward incident in Railway Claims Tribunal.