Question : Safety Provision in Railways after Earthquake

(a) whether the Railways is in the process of devising a standard operating procedure for operating trains immediately after an earthquake;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Railway Board has also written to the General Managers of all Zonal Railways to share their views on the safe operation of trains after the occurrence of an earthquake;

(d) if so, whether the Railways had not stipulated any action regarding running of trains after an earthquake and if so, the facts thereof;

(e) whether 58.6% of the country’s land mass is prone to earthquakes of moderate to very high intensity;

(f) if so, whether the Railways intends to have safety provisions in the General and Subsidiary Rules (G&SR) regarding actions post earthquake; and

(g) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) No, Sir.
(b) Does not arise.

(c) & (d) Yes, Sir. A letter was addressed to Zonal Railways on this issue in reference to a routine letter received from Northern Railway. Responses received from Zonal Railways, indicate that provisions exist under General & Subsidiary Rules (G&SRs) and/or Zonal Disaster Management Plans for safe operations of trains in various unusual situations including earthquake.

(e) As per figures available in National Disaster Management Plan (November 2019) issued by National Disaster Management Authority (Ministry of Home Affairs), nearly 59% of India’s territory is prone to moderate to severe earthquakes.

(f) & (g) Requisite provisions already exist under various rules, guidelines and Disaster Management Plans in force on the Railways which are given below :
(i) Zonal Disaster Management Plans;
(ii) RDSO Guidelines on Seismic Design of Railway Bridges (November, 2015);
(iii) Chapter II and Chapter VI of Indian Railways (Open Lines) General Rules, 1976 and Subsidiary Rules (SRs) framed by Zonal Railways thereunder.
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