RAIL ACCIDENTSPREVENTION & PROTECTION

G.K.SIDDESWARITAM/2013-18Department of Agricultural Extension

DEFINITION

Based on the definition of the Disaster Management Act 2005, Ministry of

Railways :

“Railway Disaster is a serious train accident or an untoward event of grave

nature, either on railway premises or arising out of railway activity due to

natural or man-made causes, that may lead to loss of many lives and/or grievous

injuries to a large number of people, and/or severe disruption of traffic etc,

necessitating large scale help from other Government/Non-government and

Private Organizations.”

(a) Natural Disaster

Types of Railway Disasters

(b) Train Accident related Disaster

(c) Man made Disasters

Number of Rail Accidents

 Percentage of Rail Accidents by Type

1) Mathura Collision, 21st October 2009   Goa Express train rammed into the last carriage of stationary Mewar Express 

near Mathura in Uttar Pradesh.  25 persons were killed and many were injured. 

Top 5 Worst Train Accidents in India in the Past 10 Years

2) Sainthia Collision, 19th July 2010where Uttar Banga Express collided with Varvanchal Express , incident 

occurred in Sainthia in West Bengal.  70 killed,200 injured. 

3) Kalka Mail Derailment, 10th July 2011 sudden use of emergency brakes led to derailment of 15 coaches of Kalka Mail , 75 

killed,300 injured.

4) Dhamara Ghat Accident, 19th August 2013

 Rajya Rani Express train struck a large group of people at the Dhamara  Ghat train station in the Indian state of Bihar, people returning from Katyayini  Mandir. 37 people were killed and 24 were injured. 

5) Gorakhdham Express Accident, 26th May 2014

Gorakhdham Express collided with a stationary freight train in U.P.22 killed,100 people injured.

Safety tips for Indian railway passengers Being prepared: Make mental note of the door closest to you and the emergency window and the chain

  Carry a small towel and a small bottle of water.

   If you’re carrying too much luggage

Learn about basics of firefighting- lots of materials are available on internet.

 Keep your loved ones informed of your coach and seat. If your coach is not the one affected by fire, they won’t have to panic unnecessarily

Being alert

Once in a while go for a walk across the compartment, keep your eyes and nose open for any possible signs

  In case some heavy luggage are blocking the door, or emergency exit, assess if you should insist that luggage be relocated

 During night journey, it is advisable to sacrifice your sleep a bit, wake up once or twice and repeat above steps 

 Compartment doors have a tendency to get jammed or locked. If it is closed, ensure that it is open able.

On spotting the fire

 Do not panic. Panic spoils common sense as well as basic decision taking ability.

As fire spreads in the compartment, fresh oxygen may be available at ground level and NOT at your chest level.

 Jumping off from running train may not be good idea.

Curtains, blankets and pillows in AC coach add fuel to fire. Pushing them away from source of fire

 Do not throw water on electrical fire.

 When you have your loved ones with you, do not enter into “you first-you first” emotional argument

  If your clothes catch fire rolling on the floor can douse fire

 If all the doors are crowded, it is possible to get out of a train

STEPS TAKEN TO PREVENT TRAIN ACCIDENTS

1. A no. of Safety drives at regular intervals

2. A no. of Safety seminars

3. In House Safety bulletins are published

4. Special drives are conducted

5. Printed handbills are distributed

Advertisements are regularly published in newspapers to educate and improve awareness among public on Rail Safety Issues.

7. Advertisements are also displayed in electronic media as well as in film theatres on Railway Safety Issues. Improved safety in Train operations is one of the Mission areas of Northern Railway. This railway is committed for ‘Accident Free train services’.

Fire Accidents1.To prevent fire accidents do not carry

inflammable/Combustible articles

2. Do not light a cigarette in trains. Smoking is prohibited in trains and stations.

3. Do not block the pathways in coaches with heavy luggages.

ZigBee Wireless Sensor

UNMANNED LEVEL CROSSINGS:1. Be alert and reduce your speed while approaching Railway unmanned level

crossing.2. Stop your vehicle at the foot of the stop board.3. Look at either side of the track personally or ask your assistant to do so.4. Do not cross if you see any train/trolley approaching the gate or hear the sound of

a train/trolley.5. Never guess the speed of the train.6. Cross only when no train/trolley is coming.7. If you are negligent in crossing unmanned level crossing you may be punished

with imprisonment up to one year as per section 160 of Indian Railway Act 1989.

14 schoolchildren crushed to death as train rams into bus in Medak

Kakatiya Techno School in Toopran town

Nanded-Hyderabad Passenger rammed into their school bus.

MANNED LEVEL CROSSINGS:

1. Do not try to cross the level crossing gate when it is closed.

2. Do not compel the gateman to open the gate when it is closed for train movement.

Run over accidents1. Do not travel on footboard. You can miss the train not your future.2. Do not enter/get down from running trains.

Here are the key areas experts say need urgent attention to make India’s railways safer:

1) Fire detection systems

Tamilnadu express

2) Anticollisions

Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS)Electronic gadgets

3) Improved staffing.

4) New tracks

There were 273 train derailments in India since 2008

CONCLUSION

THANK YOU