DISASTER  RESPONSE – INSTANT  ACTION  TEAM

(Chapter – 5)

 

 

5.1        INSTANT ACTION TEAM (IAT)

5.1.1        Instant Action Team Comprises

                                      i.       The Guard, Crew, TS, TTEs, AC Mechanics, AC coach attendant, Asst. Guard, RPF and other on board railway staff on the accident affected train.

                                     ii.      GRP staff traveling on the train on duty.

                                    iii.      Railway staff traveling by the accident involved train either on duty or on leave as passengers.

                                   iv.      Doctors traveling by the train.

                                    v.      Passengers traveling on the train who volunteer for rescue and relief work.

                                   vi.      Railway staff working at site or available near the site of the accident.

                                 vii.      Non-Railway local volunteers available at or near the accident site.

5.1.2        Checklist for Members of Instant Action Team

                                      i.       Generally, about 15” time elapses before information regarding occurrence of an accident reaches the Divisional Control Office. In case information can be conveyed immediately this time can be saved. This 15” time is of vital importance since it constitutes 25% of the ‘Golden Hour’.

                                     ii.      In case any railway staff/officer of the Instant Action Team members (IAT) has a Mobile, should ensure that telephone numbers of all relevant officials such as those of divisional control offices etc. have been permanently fed into the Mobile for immediate use in an emergency.

                                    iii.      These important telephone numbers should cover all those sections where they are required to work their train either within their own division or even those of adjoining divisions.

                                   iv.      Divisions will get a print out and circulate a DM Telephone Directory containing all such telephone numbers that are likely to be required in an emergency.

                                    v.      Whenever IAT are traveling at night they should keep a torch handy and secure it by some means. The torch will be of no use in an emergency if it cannot be taken out from inside the suitcase at that point of time; or if the torch cannot be located since it has fallen off due to severe jerk.

                                   vi.      Important Telephone numbers of Divisional Officers, HQ Officers and other Group of Statement Government are shown at Annexure -

 

DETAILED DUTY LIST OF GUARD AND LOCO PILOT ARE LAID DOWN IN THE ACCIDENT MANUAL OF ZONAL RAILWAYS. SOME OF THE MORE IMPORTANT ONES ARE ENUMERATED BELOW :

 

5.1.3        Guard/Asst. Guard

                                      i.      Note the time of the accident and the location.

                                      ii.     Switch on the Amber Light, if provided, in Flashing Tail Lamp, in the rear of brake van.

                                    iii.     Inform Loco Pilot through walkie-talkie set.

                                   iv.     Inform Station Master on walkie-talkie set, if possible.

                                     v.     Protect adjacent line/lines first if required and then the line on which the accident has taken place as per G&SR 6.03.

                                   vi.     Secure the train and prevent escaping of vehicles.

                                  vii.     Make a quick survey of magnitude of accident and roughly assess casualty, damage and assistance required.

                                viii.     Send information through quickest means to Control Office and SMs on either side of the block section for this purpose.

F      Walkie-talkie communication provided with stations should immediately be used.

F      Otherwise filed telephone should be used.

F      If a train comes on the other line which is not blocked the same should be stopped and information sent through the Loco Pilot.

F      Assistant Loco Pilot or Ass. Guard may be sent to the next station to convey information of the accident.

F      If all of the above fail, one of the railway staff on duty on the train should be sent on foot to the nearest station.

                                    ix.     Utilize Emergency Train Lighting box to facilitate medical aid.

                                     x.     Save lives and render First Aid.

                                    xi.     Call for Doctors and seek their assistance.

                                  xii.     Seek assistance of railway staff and other volunteers from the train to rescue injured or entrapped passengers.

                                 xiii.     Direct railway staff and other volunteers from train for attending to injured.

                                xiv.     Ensure that field telephone is constantly manned by a railway staff.

                                 xv.     Arrange protection of passengers’ belongings and railway property with the help of railway staff, volunteers on train, RPF and GRP.

                                xvi.     Stop running trains an adjacent line and utilize resources on that train.

                              xvii.     In electrified section if OHE is affected, take steps to switch off OHE supply.

                             xviii.     Arrange for transportation of injured to hospital.

                                xix.     Record evidence or statements, if any given by passengers.

                                  xx.     Preserve all clues and evidences regarding probable cause of the accident and ensure that these do not get disturbed.

                                xxi.     Log activities. Do not leave the spot unless relieved by a competent authority.

5.1.1        Loco Pilot

                                       i.     Note the time of the accident and location.

                                      ii.     Switch ON the ‘Flasher light’ of the locomotive and give 4 short whistles.

                                    iii.     Inform Guard on walkie-talkies set.

                                   iv.     Light the Fusee, if required.

                                     v.     Inform Station Master on walkie-talkie set, if possible.

                                   vi.     Protect the adjacent line, if required, and the train in front as per G&SR 6.03.

                                  vii.     Take necessary action to keep the loco safe.

                                viii.     Take necessary action to prevent Loco/Vehicles/Wagons from rolling down.

                                    ix.     Make a quick survey of magnitude of accident and roughly asses casualty, damage and assistance required.

                                     x.     Send information through quickest means to Control Office and SMs on either side of the block section. For this purpose,

                                    xi.     Walkie-talkie communication provided with stations should immediately be used.

                                xii.     Otherwise field telephone should be used.

                                 xiii.     If a train comes on the other line which is not blocked the same should be stopped and information sent through the Loco Pilot.

                                xiv.     Assistant Loco Pilot or Assistant guard may be sent to the next station to convey information of the accident.

                                 xv.     If all of the above fail, one of the railway staff on duty on the train should be sent on foot to the nearest station.

                                xvi.     Render all possible assistance to the guard.

                              xvii.     Preserve all clues and evidences regarding probable cause of the accident and ensure that these do not get disturbed.

                             xviii.     Log your activities. Do not leave the spot unless you are relieved by a competent authority.

                                xix.     If necessary detach Loco and take it to inform SM.

 

5.1.2        Train Superintendent/Traveling Ticket Examiners

                                      i.      Preserve reservation charts of each coach containing names of passengers who actually traveled and in which berth no.

                                     ii.      Avail services of Doctors traveling by the train and render Medical Aid.

                                   iii.      Render First Aid to injured.

                                  iv.      Collect particulars of injured passengers and prepare a list showing exact position of injured in coaches, from Train Engine to Brake Van. This should be handed over to railway doctors when ARMV arrives.

                                    v.      Prepare a separate list of dead passengers with address and ticket particulars, if available.

                                  vi.      Take assistance of local people and other volunteers at site.

                                 vii.      Transport injured passengers by road vehicles, if available, to the nearest hospital.

                               viii.      Inform stranded passengers about alternative transport arrangement.

                                   ix.      Record evidences or statement volunteered by passengers/others at site.

5.1.3        AC Mechanic/Attendant

                                       i.     Switch off the power supply to avoid short-circuiting.

                                      ii.     Assist the TS/TTEs in their duties at the accident site.

 

5.1.4        RPF and GRP Staff

                                       i.     Try and rescue as many passengers as possible from the accident involved coaches.

                                    ii.     Render First Aid to injured.

                                  iii.     Arrange to shift injured persons to the nearest hospital.

                                   iv.     Protect passengers luggage and railway property.

                                     v.     Preserve all clues and evidences regarding probable cause of the accident and ensure that these do not get disturbed.

 

5.1.5        Duties of Railway Staff traveling on the accident affected train

                                       i.     Whenever a train is involved in a serious accident with casualties/injuries to passengers, all railway staff traveling on the train either on duty or on leave are deemed to be duty with immediate effect.

                                    ii.     Under no circumstance should any of them leave the accident site unless and until divisional officers arrive, take over charge of rescue and relief operations, and permit them to leave.

                                  iii.     Railway staff on train/at site shall volunteer themselves to render assistance and report to TS/TTE/Guards of the Train.

                                   iv.     The senior most officer traveling on the train will assume charge as Officer-in-charge Site (OIC Site).

                                     v.     Normally the senior most officers will be traveling in either the 1AC or in 2AC coach, and most probably in the HOR quota section of the coach. The HOR section of 2AC is invariably in the center of the coach (berth nos. 19-22). In any case the TS/TTE would know who are the railway officers traveling in 1AC or 2 AC.

                                   vi.     Similarly, other railway staff will be traveling in 3 AC coach; and most probably in the HOR quota section of the coach. The HOR section of 3AC is also in the center sof the coach (berth nos. 25-30).

                                  vii.     In the absence of any officer, the TS or senior most TTE or the Guard will discharge duties listed out for OIC Site.

 

5.1.6        Duties of OIC Site (Immediately after the accident)

The Senior most staff/officer traveling in the train is termed as OIC Site.  He may be train superintendent or senior most TTE, if, no officer traveling in that train.

                                       i.     Note down the time of accident.

                                      ii.     Ensure protection of traffic by Guards and Loco Pilots.

                                    iii.     Ensure reporting of accident to nearest Station/Control.

                                   iv.     Roughly assess the extend of damage and likely number of causalities.

                                     v.     Collect railway staff and volunteers from amongst the passengers and form different groups. Each of these groups should be assigned work as detailed at chapter 6 below.

                                   vi.     Maintain a log of events.

                                  vii.     Till Divisional Officers arrive and take over charge of the situation, continue to discharge duties of OIC Site.

                                viii.     After Divisional Officers arrive, fully brief the DRM/ADRM and hand over charge to him.

                                   ix.     The on board OIC Site should ensure issue of a detailed message with following information before leaving the site of the accident.