Train accidents: RTI reply blames vehicle drivers

LUCKNOW: Negligent driving was found to be the main reason behind 43 train mishaps in North Eastern Railways (NER), Gorakhpur, region that took place in the last eight years.

The information was procured through an RTI application filed by social activist Nutan Thakur.

Information sourced through RTI has revealed that in last eight years (from 2009-10 to 2017-18) in North Eastern Railways (NER) region, Gorakhpur, 68 cases of train accidents were reported.

In these accidents, 250 lost their lives and 283 passengers sustained injuries.

The NER constituted enquiries in all these mishaps. The reply to RTI query further reveals that inquiry in 64 cases has been completed while report is pending in four cases.

Among several reasons for these train mishaps, negligent driving was found to be the main reason behind 43 mishaps.

This included two cases of negligent driving of bus and truck while in 15 cases car drivers were found responsible for the accident and in 13 cases tractor drivers were found responsible for collision with trains.

Among others, ‘pumping set left on a railway track’ and ‘bull fighting’ was also found to be the reason behind train accident while in one case broken –track was also the reason.

Major mishap took place when the Chhapra-Mathura Express rammed into a Swaraj Mazda bus at an unmanned crossing in Etah, Uttar Pradesh, on July 7, 2011. In this mishap, 39 people were killed and 36 were injured. No railway employee was found guilty for this accident.

In another accident, 29 people were killed and 71 injured when the Gorakhdham Express rammed into a goods train at the Chureb station between Basti and Gorakhpur on May 26 , 2014. Two junior officers of the railways were compulsorily retired after the enquiry.

Of these 64 cases, in 44 (around 68%) no railway staff has been found responsible for the accident.

In other cases, along with other minor penalties, seven railway staff was dismissed from service while four employees were given compulsory retirement.