Mumbai Railway Train Accidental Deaths and Injuries
Local train network of Mumbai is regarded as the lifeline of the city. It is also well known as one of the busiest networks of local train carrying 1000's of passengers' daily to & fro. Since this network is considered to be the busiest network and the intensity of traffic on this network which leads to frequent accidents due to some major and small technical grounds.
On 20th January 2004, there had been a total of 5,513 railway deaths in a single year of 2002-03. Looking at this problem, a PIL was filed in the Mumbai High Court by Dr. Sarosh Mehta and CEHAT intervened in the matter which led the High Court to issue an order in 2003 requiring the local train network in Mumbai to take a series of measures to enhance commuter safety in local trains
HIGH COURT ORDER,
BOMBAY.
HIGH COURT ORDER,
BOMBAY.
The following directions were given by the HIGH COURT, MUMBAI.
(i) The railways shall notify an emergency telephone number and shall widely publicize the same in all compartments, stations and other public places. A special cell situated in the control room, which shall be open for 24 hours, shall monitor the calls made to the said number. The personnel of such cell shall immediately contact nearest Station Master/s at the place of the accident. Such cell shall maintain records of the calls received as well as follow up reports.
(ii) Free parking for an ambulance outside all stations to be provided by Railways and the State Government wherever parking is available.
(iii) The ambulance /taxi should be called by the Station Master or his representative.
(iv) Sanction of funds for (a) Hammals/Porters and (b) Ambulance/taxi for transporting the victim from the accident spot to the hospital and if shifting of victim to the other hospital as required.
(v) Immediate shifting of accidents victim to nearest hospital. The list of ambulance services and the hospitals submitted shall be made available to all Station Masters.
(vi) Minimum Two lightweight folding or collapsible stretches in all Stations and they are to be cleaned after every use. One rechargeable torch on every station, disposable sterilized hand gloves and first aid box at each station.
(vii) Printed format of memo of reporting accident by Station Master to the Government Railway Police.
(viii) Walkie Talkie in all trains till the Train Management System is introduced.
(ix) A committee consisting of Divisional Medical Officers of each Railway, Dean of Municipal Hospital and Additional Commissioner of Police should monitor that the guidelines are being followed. One doctor nominated by Association of Medical Consultants be also included in the committee. Committee will also hear the complaints. The committee should submit its six monthly report to the General Manager of each Railway. The committee should meet atleast once in two months.
(x) The railways undertake that in order to prevent accidents, a boundary wall on both sides of the track wherever possible would be erected and existing walls be repaired.
(xi) Fencing in between two platforms shall be carried out as expeditiously as possible.
(xii) Every station should have a foot over bridge. Efforts should be made to keep them clean and free from hawkers.
(xiii) Platform height should be raised. Wherever necessary, gap between the footboard of the train and platform edge should be checked on the entrance while entering in the Station.
(i) The railways shall notify an emergency telephone number and shall widely publicize the same in all compartments, stations and other public places. A special cell situated in the control room, which shall be open for 24 hours, shall monitor the calls made to the said number. The personnel of such cell shall immediately contact nearest Station Master/s at the place of the accident. Such cell shall maintain records of the calls received as well as follow up reports.
(ii) Free parking for an ambulance outside all stations to be provided by Railways and the State Government wherever parking is available.
(iii) The ambulance /taxi should be called by the Station Master or his representative.
(iv) Sanction of funds for (a) Hammals/Porters and (b) Ambulance/taxi for transporting the victim from the accident spot to the hospital and if shifting of victim to the other hospital as required.
(v) Immediate shifting of accidents victim to nearest hospital. The list of ambulance services and the hospitals submitted shall be made available to all Station Masters.
(vi) Minimum Two lightweight folding or collapsible stretches in all Stations and they are to be cleaned after every use. One rechargeable torch on every station, disposable sterilized hand gloves and first aid box at each station.
(vii) Printed format of memo of reporting accident by Station Master to the Government Railway Police.
(viii) Walkie Talkie in all trains till the Train Management System is introduced.
(ix) A committee consisting of Divisional Medical Officers of each Railway, Dean of Municipal Hospital and Additional Commissioner of Police should monitor that the guidelines are being followed. One doctor nominated by Association of Medical Consultants be also included in the committee. Committee will also hear the complaints. The committee should submit its six monthly report to the General Manager of each Railway. The committee should meet atleast once in two months.
(x) The railways undertake that in order to prevent accidents, a boundary wall on both sides of the track wherever possible would be erected and existing walls be repaired.
(xi) Fencing in between two platforms shall be carried out as expeditiously as possible.
(xii) Every station should have a foot over bridge. Efforts should be made to keep them clean and free from hawkers.
(xiii) Platform height should be raised. Wherever necessary, gap between the footboard of the train and platform edge should be checked on the entrance while entering in the Station.
ACTION FOR STATION MASTER AND GOVERNMENT RAILWAY POLICE.
(i) Help line number to be displayed in all coaches and all stations.
(ii) On receipt of information about accident, the following action:
(a) If an accident takes place in between the Stations, information to be set to the control room about the accident.
(b) After locating of the accident site, the Control Room should inform to the concerned Station Master and he should make announcement for hammal/porters, GRP and call ambulance/taxi.
(c) As soon as the announcement is heard, hammals and GRP should rush to the Station Manager's Office, talking the stretcher from office, go to the accident site by the fastest mode available i.e. By train or by walking to reach the accidents site at the earliest;
After lifting the victim, the victim is to be brought by the passing train/ambulance/taxi to the station.
Meanwhile, the ambulance/taxi will be kept ready at station so that the victim is immediately shifted to the nearest hospital, whether private or government.
(f) Simultaneously care will be taken to stop the bleeding by the trained person of railway/GRP.
(g) All possible efforts will be made to inform the relatives of victims about the accident immediately by GRP/Station Master.
(h) The complete data of the accident be made available in the control room.
(i) The available data of the accidents will be kept before the coordinating Committee to take necessary steps to suggest measures for the improvement and better dealing with the accidents.
(j) Every accident victim should be shifted immediately.
(k) If the name of the victim is known, then the name should be announced on the public announcement system.
It is made clear that the Commissioner of Police. Greater Mumbai, shall issue necessary directions to the local Police Stations to co - operate with the Station Masters of Railways in rendering assistance to such railway accident victims, both by way of physical assistance when necessary and crowd control.
It is made clear that removal of a railway accident victim to the hospital for medical assistance; the requirement of panchanama shall not be a condition precedent. Any private doctor on site may render emergency assistance without being summoned to the police Station or otherwise for procedural formalities.
This order shall apply to all accident victims, irrespective of whether or not a ticket or pass is found with them at the time of the accident.
The entire purpose of this exercise is that the victim gets immediate medical help within the period of one hour (Golden Hour) from the point of accident.
We direct all concerned authorities to fully co-operate to carry out the foreside directions.
We direct that all the aforesaid directions be made applicable forthwith.
(ii) On receipt of information about accident, the following action:
(a) If an accident takes place in between the Stations, information to be set to the control room about the accident.
(b) After locating of the accident site, the Control Room should inform to the concerned Station Master and he should make announcement for hammal/porters, GRP and call ambulance/taxi.
(c) As soon as the announcement is heard, hammals and GRP should rush to the Station Manager's Office, talking the stretcher from office, go to the accident site by the fastest mode available i.e. By train or by walking to reach the accidents site at the earliest;
After lifting the victim, the victim is to be brought by the passing train/ambulance/taxi to the station.
Meanwhile, the ambulance/taxi will be kept ready at station so that the victim is immediately shifted to the nearest hospital, whether private or government.
(f) Simultaneously care will be taken to stop the bleeding by the trained person of railway/GRP.
(g) All possible efforts will be made to inform the relatives of victims about the accident immediately by GRP/Station Master.
(h) The complete data of the accident be made available in the control room.
(i) The available data of the accidents will be kept before the coordinating Committee to take necessary steps to suggest measures for the improvement and better dealing with the accidents.
(j) Every accident victim should be shifted immediately.
(k) If the name of the victim is known, then the name should be announced on the public announcement system.
It is made clear that the Commissioner of Police. Greater Mumbai, shall issue necessary directions to the local Police Stations to co - operate with the Station Masters of Railways in rendering assistance to such railway accident victims, both by way of physical assistance when necessary and crowd control.
It is made clear that removal of a railway accident victim to the hospital for medical assistance; the requirement of panchanama shall not be a condition precedent. Any private doctor on site may render emergency assistance without being summoned to the police Station or otherwise for procedural formalities.
This order shall apply to all accident victims, irrespective of whether or not a ticket or pass is found with them at the time of the accident.
The entire purpose of this exercise is that the victim gets immediate medical help within the period of one hour (Golden Hour) from the point of accident.
We direct all concerned authorities to fully co-operate to carry out the foreside directions.
We direct that all the aforesaid directions be made applicable forthwith.
No comments:
Post a Comment