Timely completion of Departmental Accident Inquiries: Instructions by Railway Board vide Order dated 03.08.2026
भारत सरकार (GOVERNMENT OF INDIA)
रेल मंत्रालय (MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS)
रेलवे बोर्ड (RAILWAY BOARD)
No.2024/Safety(Inquiries)/1/1
New Delhi dated: 03.08.2026
General Manager,
All Zonal Railways
CMD, KRCL, Navi Mumbai,
MD, DFCCIL, Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
Sub: Timely completion of Departmental Accident Inquiries.
Ref.: (1) Railway Board’s letters No. 2005/Safety (A&R)/6/4 dated 02.02.2006 & 24.02.2006
(ii) Railway Board’s letter No. 2019/Safety(A&R)/26/6 dt. 31.12.2019
During safety review of accident investigations, it has been observed that in several accident cases, departmental inquiries have not been finalized within the prescribed time limit. Attention is invited to Railway Board’s letter under reference, wherein it was stipulated that departmental accident inquiries into train accidents should be completed within the prescribed time schedule.
Likely reasons for the delay:
(i) Not nominating inquiry committee within one day, :
(ii) Officers doing inquiry proceedings getting disturbed due to routine office work.
In order to facilitate timely completion of inquiries without compromising the quality of investigation, it is advised that, immediately after an accident, a suitable location in the vicinity of the accident site may be identified for the exclusive use of the Inquiry Committee. This will enable all members of the Committee to work in coordination, focus on the investigation, examine the available evidence expeditiously, and finalize the inquiry report in continuous sittings, as far as practicable.
It is therefore, requested to review all pending accident inquires and take necessary action to ensure that the accident inquiries are completed within the stipulated time frame. It may also be ensured that the current status and all relevant details of all the accident inquiries are reviewed and updated on weekly basis.
Sd/-
(उपिंदर सिंघ)
प्रधान कार्यकारी निदेशक/संरक्षा
रेलवे बोर्ड
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