**Summary:**
This document summarizes the Indian Ministry of Railways' response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1811, addressed on July 30, 2025, regarding investigations conducted by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS). The Minister of Railways, Information Broadcasting and Electronics Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, provided the response.
The response clarifies that the CRS, a statutory body under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, is mandated under Section 114 of the Railways Act 1989 to investigate serious train accidents involving passengers that result in loss of life, grievous injury, or significant damage to railway property. The CRS also has the discretion to inquire into other accidents as deemed necessary.
The Ministry reports that, over the past five years, the CRS has completed all but one inquiry into serious accidents. The corresponding reports have been submitted to the government. The respective Railway administrations are responsible for implementing appropriate actions based on the recommendations provided by the CRS in these inquiry reports.
Key Entities Referenced
Commission of Railway Safety: A statutory body working under Ministry of Civil Aviation, responsible for investigating serious railway accidents.
MR PATHAN YUSUF: Member of LOK SABHA who raised the unstarred question.
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS: The Minister responsible for answering the question related to railway safety investigations.
SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW: The Minister of Railways, Information Broadcasting and Electronics Information Technology who provided the answer to the Lok Sabha question.
Ministry of Civil Aviation: The ministry under which the Commission of Railway Safety operates.
Railways Act 1989: The legal framework under which the Commissioner of Railway Safety holds statutory inquiries into railway accidents, specifically Section 114.
LOK SABHA: The house of parliament where the question was raised.
Government: The recipient of inquiry reports submitted by the Commission of Railway Safety.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1811
TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.07.2025
INVESTIGATIONS BY COMMISSION OF RAILWAY SAFETY
1811. MR PATHAN YUSUF:
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that the all the serious accidents are mandated
to be investigated by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS);
(b) if so, the details of the number of inquiries under the CRS initiated
for serious accidents during last five years, accident-wise;
(c) the details of the inquiries completed and the report submitted to
the Government;
(d) the details regarding any pending inquiry reports; and
(e) the details of the outcomes of the inquiry report completed and
submitted to the Government, accident-wise?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a) to (e) Commission of Railway Safety (CRS) is a statutory body
working under Ministry of Civil Aviation. Under Section 114 of Railways
Act 1989, CRS hold statutory enquiry into the accidents to a train
carrying passengers resulting in loss of human life or grievous hurt or
causing serious damage to railway property. Further it is open to CRS
Page 1 of 2to hold an inquiry into any other accident which, in his opinion, requires
the holding of such an inquiry.
During the last five years, all the inquiries under CRS, except one case
have been completed and the reports have been submitted to the
Government. Appropriate action is taken by the respective
Railway administration on the recommendations, suggested by the CRS
in the inquiry reports.
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