All you wanted to know about railway relief

There are a number of ways in which the Ministry of Railways compensates accident victims who lose their lives or are injured. Railway Act 1989 provides for compensation in the event of an accident or an untoward incident.

The passengers who are injuried or lose their lives in train accidents are entitled to compensation by Railway Claims Tribunal. The railway minister too has discretionary power to grant ex gratia to the victims on humanitarian grounds. “The ex gratia amount is over and above the compensation amount decided by the tribunal,” said a railway ministry official. 

The ex gratia payment should be arranged preferably on the spot by a senior officer nominated by the general manager.

Compensation claims for death or injury of a passenger in train accidents are decided by the Railway Claims Tribunal. An application for compensation may be filed in any of the bench having territorial jurisdiction over the place from which a passenger obtains or purchases pass/ ticket or where the accident/or untoward incident occurs or where the place of destination station lies or where the claimant resides. The tribunal has 21 benches at 18 major cities in the country. There are three benches in Kolkata and two in Delhi.