Bhopal | March 7, 2025: A full-scale joint disaster management exercise was conducted today at Sorai railway station’s goods siding under the Bhopal railway division. The drill aimed to assess preparedness for handling railway accidents efficiently.
The exercise was conducted under the guidance of Bhopal Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Shri Devashish Tripathi and Principal Chief Engineer Jabalpur Shri Ashutosh. Railway officials, employees, and teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Emergency Response Force (SDERF), led by NDRF Assistant Commandant Shri S.A. Sikandar and SDERF Platoon Commander Shri Chetan Kannauji, actively participated in the drill.
Simulating a Realistic Train Accident Scenario
To create a realistic accident scenario, two coaches—a sleeper coach and a general coach—were deliberately shown as derailed. The AC coach was derailed, while the GS coach was placed on top of it to depict a severe accident scene. Artists from the Railway Cultural Academy and Civil Defence volunteers acted as injured passengers, enhancing the realism of the exercise.
Emergency Response and Rescue Operations
The accident relief and rescue operations began at 11:20 AM, when the train guard reported to Sorai station that a special passenger train had derailed, leading to multiple casualties. The station master immediately alerted the railway control room, which triggered five hooters (sirens), mobilizing the accident relief train and medical van from Bhopal railway station.
Upon arrival, railway and NDRF teams launched coordinated rescue efforts. Windows were broken, doors and roofs were cut open, and ropes and stretchers were used to evacuate trapped passengers. Special airbag equipment was employed to lift bogies and rescue passengers stuck underneath.
Railway medical teams and doctors promptly provided first aid. A team from Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government Medical College, Vidisha, played a crucial role in the exercise, assisting in emergency medical response. A green corridor was established to transport critically injured passengers swiftly to hospitals.
Role of Railway and Relief Teams
The Commercial Department’s ticket-checking staff played a vital role in assisting passengers, guiding the injured to medical booths, and ensuring smooth relief operations. To provide necessary information and assistance to passengers’ families, the railway department set up “Passenger Assistance” booths at the accident site and major railway stations.
Evaluation and Key Takeaways
After the successful completion of the drill at 1:47 PM, DRM Shri Devashish Tripathi and Principal Chief Engineer Shri Ashutosh inspected NDRF’s advanced rescue equipment, the railway accident relief train, and the medical van equipped with an operation theater. Drone cameras recorded the entire exercise for evaluation.
Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Shri Saurabh Kataria remarked, “This joint exercise has significantly enhanced our disaster management preparedness. It has strengthened interdepartmental coordination, ensuring an efficient and rapid response in real emergencies.”
The exercise saw participation from senior railway officials, doctors, engineers, supervisors, cultural academy artists, and civil defense personnel. The drill successfully demonstrated the capability of railway authorities and disaster response teams in handling railway accidents effectively.
Author: This news is edited by: Abhishek Verma, (Editor, CANON TIMES)
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