City Pulse

More than seven years after a Parliamentary panel pointed out how ill-equipped the railways is to respond to disasters and emergencies, railway stations in Mumbai leave much to be desired. 

In May 2010, Public Accounts Committee's report threw light on the railways' lack of preparedness. Among other things, it mentioned the time taken that rescue and relief equipment take to reach the disaster site was longer than usual. It said the provision of accident relief trains and medical vans was inadequate and their maintenance was deficient. 

Forty-five-year-old Samir Zaveri, who became a railway activist after losing both his legs in a railway accident as a teenager, revealed that of the 32 stations on the Western line, only about 10 have an Emergency Medical Room (EMR). He said the Central and Harbour lines too have only a few stations with an EMR. He stressed on the need for every station to have this facility.

As recently as a month ago, a committee set up by Bombay High Court's order noted that the work to set up an EMR at every railway station needs to be expedited. Two days after the committee's meeting, the Elphinstone tragedy took place, claiming the lives of 23 people and leaving more than three dozen injured.

Some of the railway officials do not deny the allegation that Mumbai's railway stations are under-prepared to respond to a crisis situation. On the condition of anonymity, the station master of one of the busiest railway stations of the Mumbai rail network said given the footfall they witness, "It is impossible to control an accident situation. Like if a terror attack takes place or a major accident. I don't think we are fully prepared."

A railway official from Kurla painted a contrasting picture. Requesting that his name be withheld, he said the authorities are fully prepared for rescue and relief operations involving Mumbai locals. He claimed the stations are equipped with emergency medical facilities and accident relief trains. He said the station also has 14 stretchers, three wheelchairs, enough lighting arrangement and medical help that is available 24x7.

Kurla is one of the prominent junctions in Mumbai as trains running on both Central and Harbour lines halt here.

AK Jain, senior PRO, Central Railway (Mumbai), said they have tied up with different hospitals, adding that the nearest hospital's services will be availed of if any untoward incident takes place. Further, he said ambulances are stationed at 25 stations and then there are EMRs with a doctor.

Satish Menon, inspector in-charge, RPF, Dadar station, too said the station is equipped with emergency medical services and ambulances.

Not good enough

While major stations can boast of these facilities, experts believe there's a lot still to be done. AV Shenoy, a transport expert associated with civic group Mumbai Vikas Samiti, said only a few stations have these facilities. He opined that setting up an EMR at every railway station needs to be high on the railways' priority. 

Pooja Gawas, who regularly travels in Mumbai's local trains, said every railway station in the city is prone to stampede, adding that commuters don't even know how they should respond to such situations. Like Shenoy, she advocated for equipping every station with medical facilities, reasoning that accidents can happen anywhere.

While the railways have agreed to provide these facilities, Zaveri does not buy its words. He said the railways had announced erection of walls to prevent trespassing into the tracks a good 13 years ago but the work is still not done and accidents continue to take place because of this.

Picture Courtesy: Being Indian