Send only best to N-E to improve Rly safety -- Gaisal probe report

Send only best to N-E to improve Rly safety -- Gaisal probe report
BHAVNA VIJ

NEW DELHI, MARCH 25: A posting in the north-eastern region of the country is considered a ``punishment'' in the Railways. Mediocre staff, a poor working environment and lack of training, coupled with the long neglect by the administration are the major factors contributing to the death of 320 people in the Gaisal train collision in August 1999.

This is what Justice (retd) G.N. Ray observed in his inquiry report on the accident. To improve the functioning of North-East Frontier (NF) Railway, he suggested that only outstanding officers should be posted in the region. Another major recommendation by Justice Ray is that only officials from the front-line departments -- engineering, mechanical and traffic operations -- be posted as Divisional Railway Managers (DRMs) and General Managers (GMs) of zones.

This being a general recommendation -- and not just limited to NF Railway -- Justice Ray categorically stated that officials from other departments, including signalling and telecom (S&T), accounts and personnel, should not be posted as DRMs or GMs since they had no experience of ground-level operations and had never dealt with field staff.

Justice Ray also expressed shock at the ``sequential failure'' of Railway staff that led to the tragic collision. And he found ``disgusting'' the behaviour of the staff -- including assistant station masters (ASMs) and station master (SM) of Gaisal station -- after the accident. Nobody spared a thought for the trapped passengers. Everyone had deserted the accident site. The ASM on duty ran away soon after the collision, claiming that it was a bomb blast.

The cabin man ran to the station master's house to inform him. The station master sent the off-duty ASM to check, who confirmed it was a collision as both trains -- the Awadh-Assam Express and the Brahmputra Mail -- were on one line. The station master, instead of rushing to the site, went to the police station to seek protection. He feared that he would be beaten up if he went to the station. What Justice Ray found most unbelievable was how everybody misled the zonal headquarters -- and consequently the railway board in Delhi -- by repeatedly claiming that it was a bomb blast.

It was only the next day, when the Additional DRM reached the accident site, that the message was relayed that it was indeed a collision. Justice Ray devoted one full chapter of the 176-page report on the behaviour of the station staff, indicting at least 30 officials for the accident. The indicted personnel also include staff of Panjipara and Kishanganj stations, in addition to senior zonal officials.

Justice Ray stated in the report that he had visited other zonal railways in the country to study the differences in their functioning. He found NF railways to be the worst off, especially in terms of working conditions and training of the staff, including that of drivers and guards.

In addition to recommending that only the best be posted to NF, Justice Ray said that the principal Heads of Departments posted in NF should be in a higher category than other zonal railways. This would mean that the General Manager of NF railways would be at par with a member of the Railway Board. This would also mean extra authority to officials to take on-the-spot decisions and not always wait for signals from the Railway Board.

And as an incentive, Justice Ray suggested that on completion of their tenures in the NF (three years for senior level officials and 10 years for juniors), the officers would compulsorily be given a posting of their choice. He said that families of these officials must also be well looked after while they were posted in the North-East.

Justice Ray has also advised the Railways to get in touch with the Army to find out what incentives the Army offers its officials posted to the region and consider extending some of those to the Railway personnel.