Explain duty of first engineering official reaching at accident site.

  Explain duty of first engineering official reaching at accident site. 

Ans:- (a) On receipt of intimation of the occurrence of an accident resulting in damage to any part of the Way/Works /Bridges and affecting the free passage of trains, the concerned Engineering official shall proceed to the site of accident, by the quickest available means. On his way, he should collect information about the extent of damage to Permanent Way / Works / Bridges and arrange for movement of materials required for restoration. Action at site -

(a) Protect Train - He should ensure that protection has been done to the train in front and in the rear, in accordance with the rules. In the case of double line, if the other line is also affected by the accident, steps shall be taken to protect both the lines. If no infringement exists, trains must be controlled and passed cautiously on the unaffected track. 

(b) First aid and Rescue - He should arrange for first aid to injured passengers and Railway staff and rescue of trapped persons. If there is any Medical Practitioner on the train, his assistance should be obtained.

(c) Advice to nearest Station Master- After a rapid survey of the position, particulars should be sent to the nearest Station Master as under- 

• Station at or stations between which the accident has occurred.

• Kilometrage at which the accident has occurred.

• Number and description of the train or trains involved 

• Date and time of the accident.

• particulars of loss of life and injuries to passengers and staff.

• Nature and cause, if known, of accident.

• Damage to Permanent Way, Works, Bridges, Overhead equipment (in case of electrified section), signal and interlocking gear, engines or vehicles• Probable duration the line may be blocked.

• Whether transhipment is required and if so whether it is feasible. Assistance (if any required) such as Medical assistance, break-down train etc.

(d) Line Clear examination - If the Engineering official has reached the site and no traffic official is available he should carefully secure the line clear token or ticket and any caution order, where necessary

(e) Preliminary clearing operation and preservation of clues -

(i) In all instances in which the means taken for the restoration of communication are likely to obliterate marks on the road and other evidence needed at a joint enquiry, the senior official who arrives first on the spot should carefully examine the track, train or vehicle and as soon as possible make notes, sketches etc. and hand over the same to his superior or produce them at the enquiry. He will, when the nature of the accident is such as will involve the question of eye-sight of any of the staff, verify (in case of those permitted to wear glasses) that they had worn glasses at the time of the accident and had carried a spare pair of glasses with them.

(ii) In all cases of accidents, the cause of which might possibly due to sabotage, it is essential that the clearance and restoration operations are not commenced till the Police officials arrive at the site and intimate their agreement to the commencement of clearance and restoration work, after, making thorough investigations.

A factual note of the conditions obtaining at the site prior to restoration work should be prepared and signed jointly by the senior-most Police and Railway officials at the site. In the event of any difference of opinion between the Police and the Railway officials, such difference of opinion may be recorded on the joint factual note.

In addition it should be ascertained promptly from the C.R.S. if he would like to inspect the site, etc. before the commencement of clearance and restoration work and then action should be taken in accordance with his wishes. Before clearance and restoration operations are commenced all relevant clues, materials and damages and the deficiencies on Rolling Stock, etc. must be noted and preserved.. 

(iii) In other cases, clearance and restoration operations can commence even before the arrival of the Police and it is not necessary that all the rails, sleepers and fastenings involved in an accident should be preserved, but only those, whether serviceable or otherwise, which bear wheel marks, etc., especially between the points of mount and drop. In all cases of serious derailments, these are essential for a later reconstruction of the scene and should be preserved and/or recorded by the first responsible official to reach the site of the accident, as these would be valuable evidence to ascertain the cause of the accident.

(iv) After the injured persons have been attended to and arrangements made for the onward journey of the stranded passengers, the Railway officers at the site of the accident should arrange to record the preliminary statements of the staff concerned. . 

 (f) Information to higher officials:- He should get in touch with the Divisional Engineer and the Controller / Chief Controller and furnish complete information advising the details of action being taken and the probable time for restoring through running.He should arrange to organize the measure for expeditious restoration of through running and ensure incessant working till restoration.

(g) Preservation of clues - He should arrange to preserve all clues to enable reconstruction of the scene of the accident . Photographs showing the details of damage to Permanent Way and Rolling Stock at the site of accident should be taken wherever necessary; in case of suspected sabotage, the photographs of the site of the accident showing the damage and possible clues should invariably be taken. 

(h) Examination of site and preparation of sketches - The first Engineering representative to arrive at site shall attend to the following :- 

(1) He should examine the entire site inclusive of track over which the train has passed immediately before derailing, noting down any unusual features observed, especially any parts of vehicles or other material lying on or near the track.

(2) A dimension ed sketch should be prepared covering the entire site of accident, showing all relevant features inclusive of track leading up to point of derailment, showing position of derailed vehicles, point of mount and drop and other relevant details. All the details given in should be incorporated in the sketch.

(3) An examination of the derailed vehicle/ vehicles for defects not caused by the derailment but which may have been the cause of the derailment should be made. He should make out notes for inclusion in the joint report. 

(4) Details of Engineering works in progress, if any, at the site of accident, caution orders in force and nature of protection should be noted. 

 (i) Recording particulars at site of accident - 

(1) Permanent Way particulars -Permanent Way particulars shall be recorded jointly with the Inspectors of the other concerned departments as per These records will inter alia include particulars of the track structures, the condition of the track components, track geometry and other relevant details.

(2) Particulars with respect to Rolling Stock and signalling- Engineering representative should associate himself with the concerned representative of the other departments in recording measurements of- 

(a) The locomotive,

(b) Carriages and Wagons; and

(c) Signalling and Telecommunication equipment. 

(3) Operating particulars - The following operating particulars should also be recorded wherever relevant :- 

(a) Speed - The actual speed at the time of derailment, from the speedometer graph or if the locomotive is not provided with the speedometer graph, by referring to inter-station timings.

(b) The direction of the locomotive i.e., shorthood or longhood leading.

(c) The brakepower of the train.

(d) The marshalling of the train with reference to orders applicable on the section. 

(e) Whether there has been sudden application of brakes.

(f) Whether there was sudden opening of regulators. 

(g) Condition of loading in wagons, especially unequal loading, light loading, empties between loaded vehicles, over loading, moving loads and any infringement to standard dimensions. 

(h) Particulars of Caution Orders issued to the Driver/Guard.