More than half of 292 rail fatalities in 2014-15 at level

A total of 292 lives were lost in train-related accidents in 2014-15 with more than half of these fatalities occurring at level crossings, Rajya Sabha was told today.
There were a total of 135 major train accidents in 2014- 15, including 50 at unmanned level crossings and six at manned level crossings, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said in a written reply in the Upper House.
The total number of people killed in mishaps at level crossings during 2014-15 was 161.
There were a total of 69 accidents up to November 11, 2015, which altogether claimed 92 lives, he said.
The number of accidents at unmanned level crossings was 47 in 2013-14, 50 in 2014-15 and 23 this year up to November.

Railways has taken several measures to prevent accidents at level crossings, including construction of rail overbridges and underbridges, the minister said.
Social awareness campaigns through posters as also SMS- based campaigns have been launched to educate road users about safely negotiating level crossings, he added.