NEW DELHI: With rise in train accidents, latest being Rajya Rani Express derailment in UP on Saturday, Railways has come out with a checklist defining roles and duty of safety officers as it was found that important information post accident needed for investigation was lost due to lack of knowledge by concerned officers.
Railways found that in the recent accidents it was observed that the relevant information about the accident was not forthcoming in a systemic manner and in the process vital information was lost. It was also noted that at the accident site event log was not maintained and head quarter emergency cell was not updating Railway Board periodically.
The duties and responsibilities of safety officers of division and of headquarters are well defined in the accident manual and disaster management plan of the Railways but need was felt to restructure these for proper execution.
“A broad checklist for safety officers has been prepared and this, however, in no way circumvents the duties and role defined for the officers in the accident manual and disaster management plan of the Railway. Chief safety officers shall be in constant touch and update Railway Board emergency control room,” said an order issued by the railway board.
There have been six train accidents, including two major, in last six months and government is suspecting involvement of conspirators from across the border.
The guidelines say that guard may be asked to take pictures with their mobiles and sent them through whatsapp. Security officers should preserve all clues and evidences regarding probable cause of accident and also arrange to record joint observations at the site by the senior subordinates.
“They should arrange to maintain log of events at the site and relay to divisional emergency cell at regular intervals and relay prima facie cause in consultation with officer incharge within a reasonable time. They should also arrange to create accident ID in SIMS and update all the relevant fields at regular intervals,” it further said.
Listing out duties of chief safety officers, it says that they should be in constant touch with divisional officers and Railway Board emergency cell and monitor work of divisional staff.
On November 20, 2016, Indore-Patna Express derailed near Pukhrayan leading to death of 149 passengers. Two passengers were killed when Sealdah-Ajmer Express derailed near Kanpur on December 28, 2016. Early this year, Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Express derailed in Vizianagram district, Andhra Pradesh, killing 39 passengers. On March 3, 2017, a blast happened in Bhopal-Ujjain passenger train.