Briefing given for Press relaese by NREU

NAIRUTHYA RAILWAY EMPLOYEES UNION

(NREU)

South Western Railway-Reg.No.ALCB-4/DRT/TUA/3/2008-09

BRIEFING (ON THE PRES RELEASE ATTACHED)

HUMPI MISHASP 26 KILLED

*          SPONSORED BY DIVISIONAL OPERATIONS MANAGER

*          GROOMED BY DIVISIONAL SAFETY OFFICER, DIVISIONAL COMMERCIAL MANAGER, DIVISIONAL ENGINEER, DIVISIONAL ELECTRICAL ENGINEER

                                                            AND

*          MASTERMINDED BY DIVISIONAL RAILWAY MANAGER.

IT’S NOT A HUMAN FAILURE! IT’S A FAILURE ON THE PART OF BANGALORE DIVISIONAL AUTHORITIES AND SYSTEM FAILURE!!

On 18.07.2010 (hardly two years back) a dreaded collision had taken place at Santhia Station in BIRBHUM DISTRICT OF WEST BENGAL in Eastern Railway (ER)   under identical circumstances. In the accident Uttarbanga Express rammed into Vananchal express KILLING 67 PASSENGERS ON THE SPOT while more than 160 were injured. The only difference between the Santhia accident and the present Penukonda accident is that in Santhia accident an express train rammed into another express train berthed in the station while in the Penukonda accident Humpi express rammed into a goods train berthed in the station.

In both the cases the Loco Pilots have been blamed for passing the Home Signal in Danger and the Station Masters are blamed for NOT REVERSING THE POINT TO A FREE LINE after the arrival of the previous train. (That is to say the Station Master of Santhia did not reverse the point to a free line after the arrival of Vananchal Express while in the present case the Station Master of Penuknoda did not reverse the point to a free line on arrival of the goods train.)

The Press Release embarks on highlighting the SYSTEM FAILURE as the Railway Administration has miserably failed to emulate adequate safety measures to prevent such accidents despite an identical accident just around two years EVEN AS THEY BLAME ONLY THE LOCO P9ILOT OF THE STATION MASTER IN EVERY ACCIDENT. The Pres Note brings out how and why the SM was not inclined to take the ill fated Humpi Express on Platform No.2 though it was free.

The media is requested to investigate with Shri. Sathish Kumar Mittal Commissioner of Railways safety (Southern Circle) who is conducting the enquiry into the accident ON THE INFRASTRUCTURAL DEFICIEENCES HIGHLIGHED IN THIS PRESS NOTE OR ELSE ONE MORE REPORT WILL BE THE END PRODUCT BLAMING HUMAN ERROR AS CAUSE OF ACCIDENT WHILE THE ADMINISTRATIVE LAPSES WILL BE SUPPRESSED.

NOW READ ON.

G.Rajan,

Legal Advisor, NREU.Mob: 8861007227 & 9448293295.