Question : TRAUMA OF SPANISH COUPLE AT NEW DELHI RAILWAY STATION

(a) whether the Government are aware of the news item captioned “Battered and Fleeced at Railway station”, appearing in Times of India dated 29th March, 2002;

(b) if so, the details and facts thereof;

(c) whether a report has been sought from the officials concerned in this regard;

(d) if so, the findings thereof and punitive action taken against Railway police officials and others found responsible for the incident directly or indirectly; and

(e) the steps taken/being taken to improve the medical facility in major rail junctions in the country?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI O. RAJAGOPAL)

(a) & (b): Yes, Sir. On 22.3.2002, a Spanish couple was seen at the Nizamuddin end of platform 6/7 of New Delhi Railway Station. The lady seemed to have been suffering from some injury. Since wheel chairs were only available at the assistance booth located at platform No.1 and 12, the same could not be made available immediately. However, a licensed porter arrived with a wheel chair and took her away with her companion. Subsequently, Delhi Police traced out the couple and registered a case vide crime No.182 U/S 356 IPC dated 30.3.2002 at DRP/Delhi.

(c): Yes, Sir.

(d): The identity of the licensed porter could not be established. The police personnel, who are alleged to have been indifferent to the couple could not be identified either. Hence, it is difficult to take any punitive action against them.

(e): First Aid boxes and trained personnel are available at all Railway Stations. Further, at selected major stations augmented first aid boxes have been provided with wider range of medicines and equipment. Frontline Railway staff have been trained in first aid techniques so that they can render first aid to the passengers in case of need. Besides above provisions, a list of medical facilities, available at nearby railway stations is available with the Station Manager/Deputy Station Manager. The particulars include name of hospitals, nursing homes, names of doctors with telephone numbers, the distance of the facilities from the Station, details about facilities available etc.