MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI DINESH TRIVEDI)
(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) of STARRED QUESTION NO. 173 BY SHRI KAPIL MUNI
KARWARIYA TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 11.08.2011 REGARDING RELIEF AND RESCUE OPERATIONS
(a): The Railways have a network of rail-mounted relief and rescue equipments i.e., 208 Accident
Relief Trains(ART) and 163 Accident Relief Medical Vans (ARMV) and 320 stationary Accident Relief
Medical Equipments (ARMEs) placed at identified locations, which cover the entire rail network of
Indian Railways. Immediately on receipt of information about an accident, involving or likely to
involve injuries or deaths, Accident Relief Medical Vans (ARMVs) are rushed to the site of the
accident along with doctors and para medical staff and rescue workers and engineers. The target
time for dispatch of ARMVs is a maximum of 30 minutes from their ordering. The target time for
dispatch of ARTs is a maximum of 60 minutes from their ordering. ARMVs and ARTs are given precedence
over all other trains while proceeding to the site of the accident so that these can reach accident
site within shortest possible time. Many a times Railways doctors, paramedics and other officials
reach the site of the accident by road depending upon accessibility of the site by road.
Relief and rescue operations, however, start immediately with the help of on board staff,
available other railway staff and local people, civil administration and other agencies etc.
(b): No, Madam. Relief and rescue operations are started immediately with whatever type of help is available
at or near accident site and all efforts are made to reach the site in minimum possible time with available
railway resources for quick relief and rescue operations. The Relief and Rescue operations is given first
priority and monitored at divisional/headquarter level and in many cases directly by Railway Board, to
ensure quick rescue and relief operations. For dealing with major accidents and other types of natural
and man-made disasters, Disaster Management (DM) Plans of all divisions, zonal railways and Ministry of
Railways have been prepared where resources mobilisations from all quarters have been documented for
quick action by various Railway Officials.
(c): Does not arise.
(d) & (e): Indian Railways already has well organised task force in form of dedicated and trained
officials including doctors, paramedics, engineers, etc., for Accident Relief Trains (ARTs) and
Accident Relief Medical Vans (ARMVs) for relief and rescue operations. They are provided with
modern equipment to carry out these operations. The equipments are regularly reviewed for addition
and upgradation to increase their efficiency. Further, consequent to the Disaster Management (DM)
Act coming into force, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been constituted at different
locations throughout the country. NDRF is a force specialised in handling rescue and relief
operations in all types of disasters in the country and Railways take their help in major
accidents involving passenger trains.
