East Coast Railway chalks out coordinated measures for effective disaster response

The Khurda Road Railway Division of the East Coast Railway on Monday conducted a disaster preparedness meeting to review readiness and coordination among various agencies in handling railway-related emergencies and natural disasters.

The meeting was chaired by the Additional Divisional Railway Manager (Operations) of Khurda Road Division P K Behra.

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Representatives from the State Police, National Disaster Response Force (Mundali Unit), Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force, Railway Police Force, Local Administration, State Fire Services, State Medical Team, and key Railway Departments connected with Safety and Disaster Management participated in the meeting.

The objective was to strengthen interagency coordination, ensure quick response, and streamline procedures for effective management of any untoward incidents in railway operations.

As part of the preparedness initiatives, a full-scale disaster management mock exercise is planned to be conducted in the near future. The proposed mock drill aims to test coordination among multiple rescue and response agencies, evaluate the functioning of disaster management equipment and communication systems, and train and familiarise staff for quick, efficient, and coordinated response during real-life emergencies.

The Quick Reaction Team (QRT), headed by ADRM (Operations) will supervise on-ground coordination during emergencies. The meeting also reviewed the Divisional Disaster Management Plan, focusing on rapid response, rescue and relief measures, coordination with state and district authorities, and effective communication, crowd control, and medical assistance during the “Golden Hour”.

In the meeting, recent railway accident experiences were analysed to improve coordination, upgrade technical readiness, and enhance joint response efficiency.