Mangaluru, Mar 4: It was an incident needing prompt response. A train coach was derailed at Goods Shed, Hoige Bazar in the city and a few passengers were stuck inside, crying for help.
A rescue team from the Accident Relief Train (ART) was pressed into service immediately and passengers were evacuated and relief arranged for those amongst them who were injured.
This entire rescue and relief operation was completed very quickly. The said scene of disaster was not real but a full-scale technical mock drill conducted jointly by the ART from Palakkad division of Southern Railways.
The mock drill was conducted to assess and enhance the efficiency and alertness of the staff to meet the challenges that arise during an accident. In all, 30 personnel trained in disaster management were involved in the drill.
What brought in the action and immediate “relief” to the “wailing passengers” shouting for help was the arrival of the self-propelled accident relief van of the Railways carrying men, material, equipment and medical help.
The rescue personnel immediately brought out stretches forced open some windows and shifted the injured, to the first aid centres and waiting ambulances.
The objective was also to test disaster time equipment. Tools such as saber saw, abrasive cutter to cut the window rods and the coach body, which facilitates easy lifting of injured passengers and evacuate them from the affected coaches were used.
Speaking to the media, a senior officer of the Southern Railways said that their staff were trained in disaster managaement, rescue and relief operations.
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Looks still this train dept. have no mobile crane.
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