What are the duties of Sr.

Supervisor (subordinate) at the site of the accident

Officer or senior supervisor first reaching the site:

i) The Officer or the Senior Supervisor first reaching the site of the accident shall check
up.
a) Whether protection has been done.
b) Lines which are clear

c) Whether the necessary message supposed to be relayed regarding the

details of the accident, casualties etc., have already been relayed.
ii) He shall make a quick assessment of the assistance required and relay the same to
the control.

iii) He shall also examine and make a note of all evidence which may prove useful in
ascertaining the cause of accident.

a) The condition of the track, with special references to the alignment, gauge,
cross-levels, curvature, super elevation and rail headwear:
b) The condition of rolling stock with special reference to Brake power.
c) Marks on sleepers and rails:
d) Position of derailed Vehicles:
e) The position of Block instruments, signals, points, level, indicators, key:
f) At station provided with panel interlocking the position of switches and
indications of the Signals, points and track circuits should be jointly recorded
preferably by two officers (or two senior subordinates) of different branches
and the relay room should be sealed by them as soon as possible.
g) Position of important relays and the condition of the block instrument (i.e.
whether free or locked) and
h) He should cross check the list of casualties prepared by the Railway Doctor
and countersigned by the civil police (if some bodies are yet to be recovered,
it should specifically be mentioned that the list is not final and will be
conveyed after salvaging bodies from debris).
iv) Where possible a rough sketch showing the position of Derailed vehicles, marks on
sleepers etc., should be made.
v) If the station staff are prima facie responsible, the train passing records must be
seized and if necessary, statements of station staff concerned recorded.
vi) All relevant materials, clues, damages and deficiencies on the locomotive and rolling
stock as well as position of broken or detached parts of Permanent way and rolling
stock must be carefully noted and all such clues etc., carefully preserved so that, if
considered necessary, the scene could be reconstructed before the police, the
Commissioner of Railway Safety or any other senior officer, or court of law.
vii) If, however, sabotage is suspected, in addition to noting and preservation of all such
clues, not object must be disturbed unless the police have had an opportunity of
making through inspection of the site. However, if there is delay in the arrival of civil
and police officials at the site of the accident, the senior most Railway Official at site
may, at his discretion, jack up any portion of a coach or shift any property to the
 minimum extent necessary, after noting its original position by sketch to extricate
human beings trapped under it, in the shortest possible time to save life an minimize
sufferings. Normal traffic, should, however, not be permitted without consulting the
police.
viii) Further specific enquiry should also be made from the commissioner of Railway
Safety in case of suspected sabotage to ascertain if he would like to inspect the site
before the clearance operations commence.
ix) Restoration / clearance should not commence (except to the minimum extent
necessary to save human lives) unless such permission has been received from
police authorities as well as CRS.
x) In the case of serious explosion or fire caused by explosives or dangerous goods, all
wreckage and debris must be left untouched, except in so far as its removal may be
necessary for the rescue of the trapped / injured persons and recovery of dead
bodies, until the Chief inspector of Explosives or his representative has completed his
inquiry of intimated that he does not intend to make any investigation
xi) If a passenger carrying train is involved the officer or senior subordinate must secure
the written evidence of as many witnesses as possible. The witnesses selected
should not be railway men, and their names and their names and addresses should
be recorded.
xii) He should have a complete list of names and addresses of the injured and dead along
with the addresses of relatives and ensure messages are sent to the relatives of the
injured or dead.
xiii) He should also ensure that Superintendent of Police and District Magistrate have
been advised.
xiv) He should give the prima-facie cause of the accident with the expected time of
restoration.
xv) He should ensure that progress report is relayed to control every one hour.

3. What are the duties of control organization in case of accidents?

Chief controller / deputy chief controller:

I. Collection of information:
a) Open a register in which all items are to be logged indicating time against each.
b) Collect and record the information in the register of the following:

i) Time of accident
ii) Location, gauge, Single / Double / Quadruple Line: Signaling system, mid – section,
at station, Kilometreage, grade, traction.
iii) Train / Trains involved whether Mail / Express / Passenger / Goods / Mixed / Pilot
etc.
iv) Type of goods stock involved, i.e. whether tank wagons, BOX, BOX N etc.
v) Load of the train involved.
vi) Nature of accident namely collision, derailment averted collision or level crossing
(manned / Unmanned) fire etc.
vii) Casualties / injuries (grievous, simple, trivial etc)
viii) Progress in regard to the restoration work and other movements for operational
requirement with timing should be logged in the register.
II. Movement of trains:
a) Stop movement of trains in the affected section on double line and in both the directions
on single line.
b) Check from site / station if adjacent line / lines fouled or otherwise.

III. Ordering of relief trains and medical relief vans:

a) Immediately order Medical Relief Train.

b) In case of an accident involving a passenger carrying train or an accident involving a

road vehicle at a level crossing, invariably order the Medical Relief Train, irrespective
of the information received or not. Subsequently, if found not required this may be
cancelled with the permission of the Divisional Railway Manager.

IV. Communication:

a) Advise senior subordinates like Traffic Inspector, commercial Inspector, and Section
Engineers P.Way etc., to proceed to the site of accident immediately by first means.

b) Advise all concerned Divisional Offices and area Office about the accident

c) Advise Railway Headquarters giving details of the accident.

d) Advise RMS authorities in the event of mail carrying train being involved in the
accident.

V. Medical Relief:

a) Advise Immediately Civil, Military and Private Hospitals and Medical Officers in the
area and arrange for doctors, medical equipments and ambulances from nearby
stations.

b) Make arrangements for the transport of Railway doctors to the site immediately, if
necessary, by engaging road vehicles as required.

c) Collect the names of the injured / dead passengers with full particulars and pass on
the same to the Railway Headquarters.

d) Arrange to relay the name of injured / dead to the important stations / junction
stations on the section.

e) Attend to enquiries from general public regarding the accident, the names of the
injured etc., are available.

VI. Regulation and diversion of trains:

a) Arrange to regulate all passenger carrying trains which are nearer to the accident
site at convenient stations, preferably junction station where catering facilities,
drinking water etc, are available.
 b) Arrange to draw out the unaffected portion of the train involved in the accident
without undue delay to a near by convenient station where catering / drinking water
facilities are available in consultation with the DRM or the SR.DOM.

c) Arrange diversion of long distance trains, if found necessary keeping in view the time
required for restoration of the line / lines in consultation with Headquarter.

VII. Information to Public:

a) Ensure that information counters / booths are opened at the accident site and also at
other important stations / junction stations enroute for giving the information to the
general Public.

b) Ensure frequent announcements through the Public Address System regarding

arrangements for diversion of train/s, regulation, probable time of arrival of the relief
rake for stranded passenger etc.

VIII. Advise civil authorities, superintendent of police, GRP within whose jurisdiction
the accident has occurred.

IX. Advise RPF for arranging protection of railway and public property.

Power Controller / Traction Loco Controller.

a. Arrange power and Break down special and Medical Relief Van.
b. Ensure Breakdown special and Medical Relief Van are dispatched within the time
prescribed.
c. Inform the Mechanical / Electrical Officers.
d. Advise adjacent Divisions for B.D and M.R.V. if required and inform CMPE (R&L)
and CELE.
e. Plan for additional power and crews.
f. Obtain bio-date of running staff involved in accident and arrange for breathalyzer test
at the earliest possible.
g. Co-ordinate with the Dy. Chief Controller so that the necessary locomotives, drivers,
fitters and other technicians reach the site of accident promptly as required.

Traction Power Controller.

a. Ensure that the Electric Power Supply is cut off from the section of the overhead
equipment involved and / or where crane working has become necessary according
to the circumstances.
b. Ensure that all the necessary arrangements have been made for dispatch of
electrical staff and equipment required at the site of accident and that the Electric
traction bogies of the relief train also reach the site with the relief train or in advance
of relief train where necessary.
c. Co-ordinate with Divisional Electrical Engineer (Traction distribution), Dy.
Chief Controller and Traction supervisors concerned for regulation and relief measures
Reasons for signal passing Danger (SPAD)

Contributory factors in addition to individual failure of LP

1. LPs are confused due to LED coach position boards.

(Side collision between goods train and triple engine at RDM)

2. Not controlling the speed on falling gradient as per rules. LP misjudged since regularly
working on air brake stock

(CBU Super jumbo (vacuum stock) derailed at sand hump of MJF station)

3. Mistook other departure signals which are taken off for other trains

(KOKG goods train passed flow line starter at danger at GTL)

4. Disturbance in the running room due to prolonged work in the running room

(RYPS goods train passed starter signal of MTMI)

5. Due to head light focus of the trains coming on adjacent line in opposite direction

( Aler collision)

6. While approaching the signal, signal is not visible due to long hood. ALP also failed.

(Budvel station averted collision)

7. Under rest booking. Misinterpreting rest rules.

8. Over hours on duty.

9. Continuous night duties beyond 6 nights.

10. Poor brake power

Reasons for Collisions

1. LP passing signal at Danger

(Side collision between goods train and triple engine at RDM , collision between Up
NZB goods and Light engines+ goods train at ALER, Holiday special collision between
shankarpalli and gollaguda,

2. Not observing the speed restrictions after passing Automatic/IB/Gate signal at ON

(Collision of MEMU with 355 pass at Home signal of Hyderabad station,

Collision between two goods trains at Home signal of MTMI station,

collision of MMTS and Diesel engine at Home signal of SC station)

3. Non securing of formation

(collision of damaged Loco and 523 pass between chelama and Gajulapalli,

Collision between Repalle passenger and BFR wagons between Tipparthy and

Miryalaguda stations,collision between WFC coach and empty 516 rake at

Nanded yard)

4. Wrong setting of points

(collision between Kachiguda Manmad express and goods train at Ghat nandur,

Gaisal collision)

5. Excess backing

( collision between Ajantha express and goods train at Lasur)

6. After accident adjacent was not protected or no time to protection

(Collision between SGTY derailed wagons and RCPH goods train between
Raghavapuram and Ramagundam)

7. Not ensuring complete arrival of train within the fouling mark

Reasons for Derailments

1. LP passing signals at Danger

( LP of goods train passed flow line starter at danger at Guntakal)

2. Not ensuring correct setting of points, clamping and padlocking.

(derailment of Intercity express at chinthalpalli, derailment of Chennai –CSTM express at

Matumarri, derailment of Loco of 355 passenger at Chittigadda)

3.