Save track workers from rail accidents

Along with passengers and trespassers an increasing number of railway employees are are also becoming victims of track accidents. Nearly 22 railway men including gangmen and those working on the overhead equipment wires have died in 2009.

“The railway administration needs to be sensitised to the rising number of the employee deaths on the tracks as they are forced to work amidst heavy train movement. Recently, on January 14, a gangman was run over by a train near Byculla railway station. Most often these deaths go unnoticed. However, the administration needs to initiate measures to curb these deaths,” said PR Menon, general secretary of the National Railway Mazdoor Union.

Menon said, “The workmen are not given proper equipment and gear. A number of the workers carrying out repairs on the OHE lines are electrocuted because they are forced to work without isolating the connections. Isolating connections would mean disrupting train traffic.”

Railway employees demand that besides taking precautions to reduce the deaths, the administration must also enquire into the deaths of railwaymen. “A committee must be set up to fix responsibility and recommend action against those responsible.,” he said.

However, the railway administration claims otherwise. “Our motormen honk from a distance to alert the trackmen. These men normally work in groups which have an in-charge who is responsible to alert his team about the approaching train well in advance,” said an official from Central Railway. In case of on-track deaths, necessary compensation is paid to the next of kin of the deceased and a family member is recruited to make good the loss to a certain extent.