“Are railway authorities not responsible for providing medical facilities to commuters who meet with an accident either on the station or on the tracks?” The Bombay high court asked the railway authorities on Wednesday while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Samir Zaveri, who lost both legs in a rail accident. Zaveri has also filed a contempt petition against the railways for failing to implement the safety measures suggested by the court.
His advocate Dipesh Siroya said that despite a high court order, the railways have not implemented all the measures to facilitate quick medical aid to accident victims.
Suresh Kumar, counsel for Western Railway, told the court they do provide first aid to victims at the stationmaster’s cabin. “We have also provided space to park ambulances outside major stations,” said Kumar.
But when he mentioned that the stationmaster calls on the toll free number 1298 for an ambulance, justice Deshmukh asked: “The ambulances are provided by NGOs. But what do you (railway) do?”
When Kumar said they provide basic medical training to stationmasters and other staff, justice Deshmukh pointed out: “What would stationmaster do if someone suffers a heart attack? Why don’t you provide a casualty medical officer at major stations?”
Kumar said it was not feasible to have one medico present at a station throughout the day.
On Wednesday, Bapu Thombre, assistant commissioner of police at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST), submitted an affidavit in court saying there are 123 railway stations in the city.
“Of these, the Central Railway has provided seven ambulances at CST, Dadar, Mira Road, Andheri, Thane, Dombivli and Sion stations,” the affidavit says.
