Annexure – 14
HIRING OF HELICOPTER/AEROPLANE/ROAD VEHICLES FOR RESCUE OPERATION
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (BHARAT SARKAR)
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (RAIL MANTRALAYA)
(RAILWAY BOARD)
NO. 2002/Safety-1/6/6 New
Delhi, date : 13.06.2004
General Managers,
All Indian Railways.
Sub : Empowering Zonal Railways to requisition
helicopter/aero plane at the time of severe accident.
Ref : Board’s letter No. 86/Safety-1/24/47 Dt.13.03.87 & 19.07.89.
***
Zonal Railways have
been delegated power to requisition helicopter/aero plane for expeditious
action in the event of serious accident vide railway Board’s letter reference.
The subject matter has been reviewed by the Board and the following revised
powers are delegated to the Zonal Railways.
- GMs/DRMs have been delegated the powers to requisition
helicopter/aero plane to reach the site of serious accident for rescue
operation expeditiously. In addition, powers are also delegated to
requisition air support to dispatch the rescue teams to the site of the
accident.
It is difficult to stipulate exactly the circumstances under which they may exercise these powers. It has been decided to leave this to the discretion of GMs/DRMs. However, broadly these may cover the following type of cases:
a.
Where
more than 10 casualties (death-cum-serious injuries) are feared and it is
difficult for these officers to reach the site within reasonable time.
b.
Where
heavy damage is caused to railway installations in sensitive and tension filled
areas(e.g. wreckage of track, bridges, etc. through bomb blast, other means of
sabotage, etc.).
c.
Where
public reaction in case of late arrival of senior officers at site is likely to
be highly adverse.
Normally, in case of an accident only one helicopter should
be requisitioned by a Zonal railway, except when there is a serious passenger
train accident involving several casualties when it is essential for both the
general Manager and the Divsional Railway Manager to reach the site at once to
satisfy the public and the press. However, for dispatching the rescue teams to
the a site of the accident, separate helicopter/ aeroplane may be
requisitioned, if so needed.
The GMs/DRMs may
exercise the above powers personally and may not delegate these powers.
- Zonal Railways are further empowered to requisition
helicopter/ aeroplane to evacuate injured and dead in the event of serious
accident. GMs may personally exercise these powers and may not delegate
these further.
The above instructions on the subject supersede all the
pervious instructions issued vide above referred letters.
This issues with the concurrence of
the Finance Directorate of the Ministry of Railways.
(Amitabh)
(Director,
Safety III)
Railway Board
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