20,953 people killed in Mumbai suburban trains in past 5 yrs

New Delhi, Oct 23 (UNI) In all, 20,953 people were killed in Mumbai suburban train service alone under Central and Western Railways during the past five years, the Lok Sabha was informed today.

Minister of State for Railways R Velu said in a written reply that the reasons for casualties were accidents while crossing the railway track, falling down from running trains while travelling on roof/footboard, hitting electric /signal polls installed near the tracks, electrocution with over head equipment wire while travelling on roof of trains and committing suicide.

In response to another question, Mr Velu admitted that 19 elephants have lost their lives during the last 5 years due to sudden crossings of railway track and not because of speeding trains.

The Minister said instructions have been issued from time to time for restricting the speed of trains in the forest areas and warning boards have also been fixed to guide the train drivers.

Responding to another question, Mr Velu said in order to recover the additional expenditure involved in maintenance and continuous upgradation of a network system, reservation fee for the tickets booked for journeys originating from other than the ticket booking station have been increased by Rs 10 in second and sleeper class and by Rs 15 in other classes of passenger, mail and express trains.

He said in the case of Rajdhani and Shatabdi Express trains, the reservation fee was Rs 15 in second class and the same was Rs 20 in AC Chair Car of Jan Shatabdi Express trains.

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