Train Fire News: Attention Rail Passengers! If Damage Occurs Due to a Train Accident or Fire, How Much Compensation Will the Government Provide?

Train Fire Incident: Following fire incidents on the Darbhanga Clone Special and Rajdhani Express, railway compensation rules—under which passengers receive financial assistance via insurance in the event of an accident—have come under the spotlight.

Railway Compensation Rules: Panic ensued among passengers on Wednesday after a massive fire broke out on the Darbhanga Clone Special train, which was traveling from New Delhi to Darbhanga, Bihar. According to an official from the North Central Railway, the fire started on Train Number 02570 near Sarai Bhupat Railway Station. The train was heavily crowded due to the Chhath festival, causing widespread panic among the passengers.

Meanwhile, on the other hand, a sudden fire also broke out on Sunday morning in the AC coach of the Rajdhani Express, which was traveling from Thiruvananthapuram to Delhi, creating a commotion among the passengers. Following such accidents, the question often arises in people's minds: Does the railway provide compensation to passengers, and what are the rules governing it? Let's find out what the rules are.

Who is Eligible for Insurance Benefits?

Railway travel insurance benefits are available only to passengers holding Confirmed, RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation), or Partially Confirmed tickets. To avail of this coverage, passengers are required to pay an additional amount of approximately 35 paise at the time of ticket booking.

Once the insurance is opted for, the insurance company sends a notification to the passenger via SMS and email. Upon receiving this message, the passenger must visit the insurance company's website to fill in the details of their nominee. If nominee details are not provided, compensation is paid to the passenger's legal heir in the event of an accident. Additionally, a formal claim must be filed to receive this compensation.

How Much Compensation is Provided in the Event of an Accident?

Under the railway travel insurance scheme, compensation of up to ₹10 lakh is provided in the event of a passenger's death in a train accident. Similarly, a sum of up to ₹10 lakh is also provided in cases of Permanent Total Disability.

If a passenger sustains a Permanent Partial Disability, they may be eligible to receive a claim amount of up to ₹7.5 lakh. In addition, for the treatment of injured passengers, hospital expenses of up to ₹2 lakh and a transportation allowance of ₹10,000 are provided.