ACCIDENT

ACCIDENT

DEFINITION:- for the purpose of railway working, accident is an occurrence in the course of working of railway which does or may affect the safety of the railway, its engine, rolling stock, permanent way and works, fixed installations, passengers or servant which affect the safety of others or which does or may cause delay to train or loss to the railway property. For statistical purpose accident has been classified in categories from A to R excluding I and O.

CLASSIFICATION OF ACCIDENTS: 

(AM 117-124) Accidents are classified under following heads

1. Train accidents 

2. Yard accidents 

3. Indicative accidents 

4. Equipment failures 

5. Unusual incidents.

1. Train accidents – AM 118 train accidents is an accident that involve a train. Train accidents are further divided as

a. Consequential train accidents – include train accidents having serious repercussion in terms of either one or many or all the following- 

• Loss of human life 
• Human injury 
• Loss of railway property 
• Interruption of rail traffic. 
• Train accident under following classification will be termed as consequential train accident. 

Collision – all cases under category A1 to A4 

Fire – all cases under category B1 to B4 

Level crossing – all case under category C1 to C4 

Derailment – all case under category D1 to D4 

Miscellaneous – all cases under category E1 

b. Other train Accidents:- All accidents which are not covered under the definition of consequential train accident are to be treated as other train accident. 

2. Yard Accidents :- All accidents that take place in a yard and does not involve a train are termed as yard accident. These include accidents falling under category A-5, B-7, C-9 and D6. 

3. Indicative Accident – In real term they are not accidents but are serious potential hazards and include all cases of 

I. Averted collision (classification-F) 

II. Breach of block rule coming under (classification-G). 

III. Train passing signal at danger (classification-H)

a) Averted Collision:- An averted collision is a circumstance under which but for the vigilance shown by any person or persons, a collision could have occurred, either in the block section or within the station limits between two trains or between a train and an obstruction. Provided further that such an occurrence may be treated as an ‘Averted Accident’. 

Exception:

 I. If, outside the station limits the distance between the two trains or the train and the obstruction at the time the train or trains have finally come to a stop, is 400 meters or more. 

II. If, within the station limits, there is an intervening stop signals at danger governing the moving train, and compliance by the moving train with the indication conveyed by the stop signals averted the collision between the trains or between the train and the obstruction. 

b) Breach of Block Rules:- The following situations constitutes breach of rules’ 

I. When a trains enters a block section without any authority to proceed. 

II. When the train enters a block section with an improper authority to proceed. 

III. When a train is received on a blocked line not constituting an adverted collision. 

IV. When train enters or is received on a wrong line at a station or a catch /slip siding or sand hump. 

c) Signal Passed at Danger – Passenger train passed signal at danger without proper authority (H-1) and other train passed signal at danger without proper authority(H-2). Reasons for signal passed at danger (SPAD) by LP 

I. In sufficient brake power in the train. 

II. Disobey of signals by the Loco Pilot. 

III. Not taking sufficient rest at running room or at home.

IV. Train become over speed. 

V. Loco pilot becoming over- confident. 

VI. Over time duty /working hours 

VII. Brake not applying at right time. 

VIII. Signal not seen from minimum sighting distance. 

IX. High intensity lights near signals. 

X. Fault in the engine. 

4. Equipment failure:- failure of railway equipments i.e. Engine, rolling stock, permanent way, OHE, signal and telecommunication (J, K, L, M) 

5. Unusual incident – These include cases related to law and order but not resulting in train accidents and other incidents under classification N, P, Q & R. 

REPORTABLE TRAIN ACCIDENT – (AM-106) 

All accident falling under the purview of section 113 of railway act 1989 are termed as reportable train accident and include following. 

I. Any accident attended with loss of human life, or with grievous hurt. 

II. Any collision between trains of which one is a train carrying passenger or 

III. The derailment of any train carrying passenger, or of any part of such train, or

IV. Accident which are attended with loss of human life in passenger trains involving train wrecking or attempted train wrecking, cases of running over obstructions placed on the line, of passengers falling out of train or of fires in trains or grievous hurt as defined in the Indian Penal Code, or serious damage of railway property of the value exceeding rupees 25Lakhs which have not actually occur which by the nature of the accident might reasonably have been expected to occur and also caused interruption of any important through line of communications for at least 24 hours. 

Means to report of an accident- AM 201 

Every railway servant shall report with least possible delay every ‘Accident’ or ‘Unusual occurrence’ in the course of working the railway which may come to his notice, to the nearest station master or section in charge through the following any possible means

1. PFT/EFT/WALKIE-TALKIE/VHF SET/MOBILE PHONE. 

2. Gate telephone 

3. By stopping train /Loco/Trolley or other vehicle passing on adjacent line. 

4. BSNL/MTNL telephone 

5. By sending message through a railway servant to the nearest SM. 

6. Sending the light engine of the train before detaching the engine, SR- 6.09-1 should be followed however in case of suspected sabotage, engine etc should not be disturbed or 

7. By road transport if available. 

Threshold value:- 

For the purpose of reporting of accident threshold value is the value beyond which the accident will be treated as having serious repercussion on the basis of loss to railway property or interruption to communication. It shall be constitute two portions. 

I. Threshold value of railway property loss which is fixed at 2 Crores. 

II. Threshold value of interruption of communication either partial or total where duration of interruption to communication is equal to or more than number of hours specified against each cell.

SERIOUS ACCIDENT (AM 105) 

Accident to a train carrying passenger which is attended with

I. Loss of life or 

II. With grievous hurt (as per section 320 of IPC) to a passenger in the train, or 

III. With serious damage to railway property of the value exceeding Rs-2crore and 

IV. Any other accident which in the opinion of the chief commissioner of railway safety or CRS requires the holding of an enquiry by the CRS shall also deemed to be a serious accident. 

However the following shall be excluded –

a) Cases of trespassers run over and injured or killed through their own carelessness or of passengers injured or killed through their own carelessness, and 

b) Cases involving persons being railway servant or holding valid passes/ticket or otherwise who are killed or grievously injured while traveling outside the rolling stock of a passenger train such as on foot board or roof or buffer but excluding the inside of vestibule between coaches, or run over to a level crossing or elsewhere on the railway track by a train, and 

c) Level crossing accident where no passenger or railway servant is killed or grievously hurt unless the Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety or Commissioner of Railway Safety is of the opinion that the accident requires the holding of an inquiry by the Commissioner of Railway Safety. 

GRIVOUS HURT IN IPC – 320 

1. Emasculation 

2. Permanent privation of either eye.

3. Permanent privation of the hearing of either ear 

4. Privation of any member (organ or limb) or joint. 

5. Destruction or permanent impairing of the power of any member (organ or limb) or joint. 

6. Permanent disfiguration of the head or face. 

7. Fracture or dislocation of bone or tooth. 

8. Any hurt which endangers life or which causes the sufferer to be during the space of twenty days in severe bodily pain, or unable to follow his ordinary pursuits. 

9. General Hurt – The injury (hurt) is considered to be ‘General’ if the person resume his day to day work after 48 hours of the injury due to accident.

DUTIES OF STATION MASTER IN THE CASE OF ACCIDENTS: (AM-311)

 Station master, he shall immediately:- 

1. Ensure that no other train enters the affected section. On double line, he must lock the commutator of the block instrument controlling the affected section in “Train on line position”. 

2. Advise the controller of the accident, indicating the nature of medical and other assistance required. If the section is not controlled of if the control phone is out of order the DOM or the CHC must be advised on the public phone or by other means available. The SM of adjacent station and other major station should also be advised accordingly. 

3. Take action to protect and safeguard railway and public property. 

4. Collect medical aid, if required, locally from the nearest hospitals, dispensaries and doctors. In order to convey medical help to the site of the accident, trolleys may be sent out and train engines utilized or outside conveyance requisitioned, if necessary. In this connection he must requisition help from the local police and magistrate. 

5. Report the accident to all concerned as prescribed in rules. 

6. Call all the off-duty staff and allot them specific duties for relief and rescue operation.

 7. Arrange to provide all sorts of assistance to the affected passenger such as catering, drinking water, issue of complimentary passes, free messages to relatives etc. 

8. Open information counters and booths for giving information to the public regarding names of the injured/dead passengers and regulation /diversion of trains etc. STD booths located at stations/adjacent areas should be utilized for giving relevant information. 

9. Arrange for whatever assistance is required in connection with clearing arrangements. Transshipment etc and provide lights, refreshments, and manual help and many other requirements which can be procured within his resources. 

10. Arrange for the section to be cleared of unaffected vehicles as early as possible but if the accident is attributed to sabotage or suspected sabotage he shall not do so, but wait for instructions from the officer in charge at site. 

11. Remain on duty taking orders from the control and the officer in charge of break down operations till the accidents is cleared or he is replaced by a competent person. 

 Duties of station master of adjacent station (AM-312):- 

 On getting information of accident, the SM of the adjacent station shall ensue that no other train enters the affected section and take other necessary mean source for protection of the site and perform all other duties as given in above Para 311.