SITE  MANAGEMENT  PLAN - I

(Chapter – 10)

 

 

There are 2 aspects of Disaster Management work at an accident site.

F      Rescue, relief and restoration operation which is carried out by one set of functionaries.

F      Aspect pertains rehabilitation of accident involved passengers, taking care of dead bodies, dealing with their relatives etc. for which a different set of functionaries are required. For managing these 3 distinct aspects of DM work that are required to be discharged by railways, three separate establishments should be set up at an accident site. The outline schematic plan of accident site given at Annexure-I.

F      Transportation of stranded Passengers.

 

10.1   UNIFIED COMMAND CENTRE (UCC)

10.1.1    Unified Command Center (UCC) should be set up at the accident site under the overall coordination of Mechanical Department.

10.1.2    This will be some kind of a control office to be located near the center of the accident site.

10.1.3    This is basically meant for catering to operational needs of railway in rescue, relief and restoration work.

10.1.4    Detail schematic plan of UCC is given at Annexure – 2.

10.1.5    UCC is to be manned by staff of relevant departments such as :

F      Medical, Commercial, Personnel, Operating, Safety, Security, Public Relations, Mechanical, Electrical, S&T, Engineering.

10.1.6     UCC will be provided with all facilities similar to a control office.

10.1.7     Adequate lighting with generator backup should be provided in the UCC.

10.1.8     Adequate number of telephonic links to Divisional Emergency Cell and HQ Emergency Cell should be provided. Preferably each department in the UCC should be given as independent telephone including satellite telephone, fax, photo coiner, PCs and loud speaker.

10.1.9     PC/Laptop should be connected to internet for E-Mailing of detail update to all concerned, including Divisional Emergency Cell, HQ Emergency Cell and Helpline Enquiry Booths.

10.1.10      A big banner displaying ‘UNIFIED COMMAND CENTER’ should be put up at a prominent place at the entry to the shamiana, with sufficient signage’s indicating its direction or approach road.

10.1.11      UCC at the site will be manned by Sr. Supervisors on round the clock basis in 12 hrs. shift duty and they will monitors & co-ordinate working of their departments.

10.1.12      Various functionaries in the UCC will monitor and co-ordinate the working of their departments, and assistance required by them, if any.

10.1.13      Each functionary at the UCC will maintain a log book. Flow of information both incoming and outgoing would be recorded along with the time and names of officers/staff who were given the message. UCC will supervise work of 2LCCs and co-ordinate with Divisional & HQ Emergency Cell.

10.1.14      UCC will basically supervise the working of 2 LCCs and coordinate with Divisional and HQ Emergency Cells.

10.1.15      Functionaries of different departments in LCCs should provide updated information regarding progress of work to their counterparts in UCC.

 

10.2    LOCAL COMMAND CENTRES (LCC)

10.1.1    Depending on the spread of the accident site, Local Command Centres (LCC) on the same pattern as the UCC should be set up.

10.1.2    If the site is spread out over 300 – 400 mts. 2 LCCs should be set up.

10.1.3    Detail schematic plan of LCCs would be similar to that of UCCs as given at Annex-2.

10.1.4    Representatives of same departments as in UCC should be present in LCCs also. However, they should be either one or at most 2 men per department. It will co-ordinate various terms spread out over the site of accident.

10.1.5    Each LCC will oversee the working of DM teams at one end of the accident site.

10.1.6    Jurisdiction of each LCC will extend to all men and materials belonging to 2 ARMVs,; BD special and 1 ART at that end of the accident site.

10.1.7    One SAG officer of Mechanical department will be overall in charge of each LCC with loud speaker for making announcements and direct telephone link with UCC.

 

10.3    NEED FOR SETTING UP OF CENTRAL PASSENGER ASSUISTANCE CENTRE

For taking care of relatives of passengers, providing them with succor in their hour of agony and for guiding them sympathetically, some kind of an assistance center is required at site,  under overall coordination of Commercial Dept. taking help from different Depts as mentioned.  A banner displaying “CENTRAL PASSENGER ASSUISTANCE CENTRE” should be displayed prominently.

10.4    ASSISTANCE TO BE RENDERED TO THE RELATIVES OF PASSENGERS

Assistance to be rendered to relatives for completing the following formalities :

10.4.1    Locating the name of the passenger on reservation charts, in case passenger was traveling in reserved accommodation.

10.4.2    Going through the list of injured and dead passengers to find out whether the name appears.

10.4.3    In case the name is not available in the list, then taking a round of different hospitals to find out whether their relative has been admitted in one of them in an unconscious state.

10.4.4    Hospitals are generally at separate locations, sometimes even in different towns; and commuting becomes a problem.

10.4.5    In case the passenger can be located in one of the hospitals, they have to find out the severity of injuries, likely period of hospitalization etc.

10.4.6    Collect the ex-gratia paid by railways.

10.4.7    Try and locate missing luggage of the injured passenger. For this they have to take a round of the building where all unclaimed luggage have been kept.

10.4.8    Next they have to arrange for a place for themselves to stay.

                                      i.      Arrange for medicines/diet etc. and payment of hospital bills, if required.

                                     ii.      Thereafter, they have to keep touch with the hospital and get their relative released.

 

10.5    ASSISTANCE TO BE RENDERED TO THE RELATIVES/NEXT OF KIN OF DEAD PASSENGERS

They are to be given the following assistance :

10.5.1    In case the passenger could not be located in any of the hospitals, then they have to go to the building where unidentified dead bodied have been kept. 

10.5.2    Take a round of various rooms where bodies have been kept, examine each body and try and locate their near and dear one.

10.5.3    Identify the dead body, if the same has been extracted by then.

10.5.4    Otherwise wait for all bodies to be extracted and try and identify their relative.

10.5.5    In case they fail to identify the same then they have to go through photographs of unidentified bodies taken at site.

10.5.6    After the body is finally identified, they have to produce proof of relationship for railways to entertain their claim.

10.5.7    Obtain medical death certificate from the railway doctor.

10.5.8    Obtain post mortem report, from the Govt. doctor who has performed post mortem on the body.

10.5.9    Obtain official death certificate from the local municipality.

10.5.10     Accept of ex-gratia payment from railways.

10.5.11     Collect forms for lodging claim for compensation RCTs.

10.5.12     Take over custody of dead body from the local police.

10.5.13     Perform last rites at the same place or take back the body to their native place, depending on circumstances.

10.5.14     Make arrangements for their return journey back to their native place.

 

10.6    COMBINED ASSISTANCE CENTRE (CAC)  :

10.6.1    The UCC should have a Central Passenger Assistance Center (CPAC) located towards the rear side, away from the track for rendering help to passengers and their relatives. Outline schematic plan of UCC/CAC is given at Annexure-I.

10.6.2    This is basically meant for catering to requirements of passengers and their relatives/next of kin, and for providing a single window clearance for all types of formalities.

10.6.3    CAC should be separate from the UCC so that it does not interfere with normal rescue and relief work.

10.6.4    Detail schematic plan of CAC is given at Annexure-3.

10.6.5    CAC will manned by staff of relevant departments such as : 

F      Operating, Medical, Commercial, Security, Personnel,

10.6.6   There should be only one such CAC, and all railway resources should be pooled into it.

10.6.7   A big banner displaying ‘COMBINED ASSISTANCE CENTER’ should be put up at a prominent place at the entry to the shamiana.

10.6.8   Different counters should be provided in sequence for each of these formalities, so that the entire exercise can be completed in about an hour.

10.6.9   Functionary concerned from the local Municipality who issues Official Death Certificates should be made to come and sit in the CAC so that these certificates can be issued immediately without any delay.

10.6.10     CAC should have different counters for various purposes in following sequence :

                                       i.      Reservation chart, for locating the name.

                                      ii.      List of dead and injured along with name of hospital. The name of passenger involved should be checked up from the list of dead or injured, if available, and their current status informed. 

                                    iii.      Counter for providing commercial supervisor or WI as escort along with vehicle(s), for accompanying the relative and going to hospitals or mortuary,

                                   iv.      Railway doctor for issue of Medical Death Certificate.

                                     v.       Govt. doctor for issue of Post mortem Certificate, in case the same is necessary.

                                   vi.      Municipality official for issue of Official Death Certificate.

                                  vii.      Local police for issue of authority for handing over of dead body.

                                viii.      Claims counter – Payment of ex-gratia and issue of Claims Compensation form.

                                    ix.      Counter for helping performance of last rites in case relatives decide to cremate the body there it self.

                                     x.      Pass counter for issue of return journey pass.

                                    xi.      Return journey facilitation counter for making arrangements for return journey.

 

10.7   FIRST AID POSTS

10.7.1    Medical Posts should be provided in both UCC and CAC. 

10.7.2    Medical Post in UCC will provide first aid to injured passengers after extrication, assess their injuries and make arrangements for sending them to nearby hospitals.

10.7.3    Medical Post in CAC will keep all records of injured and dead passengers, names of hospitals where they have been admitted etc.

10.7.4    FA Posts should be provided in LCCs.

10.7.5    This will meant for treating passengers and classifying their injuries before they are sent for admission to various hospitals.

 

10.8    SETTING UP OF UCC, LCC AND CAC

10.8.1    One SSE/Works shall be exclusively responsible for setting up of these facilities. He shall undertake the following:

                                     i.       Move along with sufficient staff for setting up of these facilities.

                                    ii.       Immediately start setting up of the tentage accommodation after taking out tents and shamianas provided in ARTs. 

                                  iii.       In addition, he should also requisition agencies which provide tentage accommodation on contract. Details of such agencies have been given in Divisional DM Plans. 

10.8.2    Bridge Line staff will assist in setting up tentage and above mentioned facilities. Dy.CE/Bridge will also move to the site and in case, bridge is not involved, he will take full charge of tentage arrangements.

10.8.3    Bridge Unit will take with them sufficient Manila ropes, wire, ropes, survey instruments, binoculars, helmets, life jackets, ladders and other equipment. Nylon ropers should be sufficient in length to ensure barricading at site and camping areas.

10.8.4    Sufficient facilities for erecting temporary stage/scaffolding etc. should also be organized, if required at site.

10.8.5    Few temporary toilets should be provided at one location in addition to number of urinals at 3 or 4 places.

10.8.6    Water tankers will be ordered for supplying water at site and arrangements shall also be made for drinking water.

10.8.7    Temporary kitchen in tents/shamianas is to be set up so that catering unit or IRCTC can provide cooked food to staff working at accident site.

10.8.8    Adequate no of folding chairs should also be arranged.

10.8.9    Bridge Line staff will have list of divers who in case of emergency can be hired for rescue or restoration operations wherever site is surrounded by deep water.

10.8.10    Signages for both UCC and CAC should be provided at prominent locations.

 

10.9    NUMBER OF DEAD AND INJURED – MEDICAL DEPARTMENT

10.09.1    Medical department at site should confirm the number of dead.

10.09.2    Doctors in charge of various teams working on different coaches should give 3 hourly report to Medical counter in LCC who in turn will inform UCC, CPAC and others.

10.09.3    Number of injured passengers.

10.09.4    Type of injuries, whether grievous, minor or trivial.

10.09.5   Names of injured, and names of various hospitals where injured have been sent.

 

10.10      IDENTIFICATION OF DEAD BODIES – COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT

10.10.1     Number of dead bodies identified.

10.10.2     Ex-gratia paid to injured and next of kin of the dead.

10.10.3     No. of dead bodies handed over to relatives.

 

10.11      NUMBER OF COACHES DEALT WITH – MECHANICAL DEPARTMENT

10.11.1       No. of coaches thoroughly searched.

10.11.2       No. of coaches made off track.

10.11.3       No. of coaches yet to be dealt with.      

 

 

 

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