SWR, Mysuru division conducts full-scale mock drill at Ashokapuram railway station
3 min read
Mysuru: Besides the loss of life and serious injuries, the unfortunate events of train accidents and other natural disasters collaterally cause widespread destruction of infrastructure and property. The associated economic and environmental costs can be devastating.
However, if fail-safe management systems are in place, a great deal of relief would be possible to the victims of such disasters.
On Tuesday, South Western Railway, Mysuru Division, in association with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and agencies of State Government, organized a full-scale Mock Drill at Ashokapuram Railway station in the city, for testing the efficacy of the Disaster Management Plan that includes a range of activities enabling the personnel from different departments of the railways to practice the safety-related measures during an emergency.
In a sense, disaster management aims to reduce, or avoid, the potential losses of human lives and property by assuring prompt and appropriate assistance in the earliest possible time.
About the mock drill
The scenario was created where Two general second class passenger coaches SWR 91604 And SWR 92665 of T.No06220 Tirupati-Chamarajanagar Express derailed and capsized in Ashokapuram Railway Station limits this morning around 09:56 hrs. Immediately on receiving the message of the incident the Railway Officials rushed to the accident site to carry out relief and rescue operations as per standard protocols.
The NDRF team led by Harish Chandra Pandey, Inspector General Duty and comprising 20 personnel also reached the site within 20 minutes of notifying them. Personnel from fire brigade, doctors and nursing staff from Railway Hospital along with ambulances were at the spot to provide first aid and assist in taking out about 15 passengers trapped in the two coaches. There were no fatalities or serious injuries to the passengers as per the initial report.
Rahul Agarwal, Divisional Railway Manager, South Western Railways, Mysuru Division and other senior officials ordered and oversaw the rescue operation. The rescue operation lasted for about 70 minutes and was completed by 11.40 hrs.
Rahul Agarwal, Divisional Railway Manager, South-Western Railways, Mysuru division, explained the significance of such periodical drills, asserting that correct methods of conducting mock exercises would go a long way in improving the preparedness to deal with as well as in preventing disasters due to human factor. Minimizing the impact, be it loss of precious human lives or damage to infrastructure, are of paramount importance.
Preventive measures are assigned the highest priority during such drills to mitigate the sufferings of the victims, as mandated by the Ministry of Railways (Railway Board), said DRM.
The DRM further stated that adequate maintenance schedules of all Relief/Rescue equipment, including those in Accident Relief Trains/cranes, are being ensured as laid down in the rules to ensure operational readiness at all times. Mysuru Division is equipped with all necessary relief requirements like in the form of Self-Propelled Accident Relief Train (SPART), Locomotive hauled accident relief trains, 140 Tonne crane, medical relief train with trained personnel’s including Doctors and paramedical staff to provide immediate aide to the injured and these can moved to the accident sites quickly, he added.
Agarwal also informed that a comprehensive Disaster Management Plan in in place to deal with disasters effectively. A robust mechanism for establishing coordination with the various civil authorities is the focal point of it. The DRM said that Mock Exercises of this nature have always proved to be the right tool to test preparedness against any eventuality and also a learning process for improving the preparedness.
Apart from the rescue teams the personnel from the medical department with ambulances in attendance, Railway Protection Force, the Fire brigade, representatives of the civil administration, Government Railway Police and Civil Police took part in the exercise, according to Dr Manjunath Kanamadi, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager and PRO.
– Team Mysoorunews
Mysooru News
