WALTAIR DIVISION CONDUCTS REAL-TIME TRAIN RESCUE DRILL AT SIMHACHALAM STATION
East Coast Railway’s Waltair Division conducted a comprehensive real-time rescue drill at Simhachalam railway station today i.e. on 07.11.2025, focusing on emergency preparedness and coordination across multiple departments.
The simulation involved a staged train derailment, passenger evacuation, and immediate first-aid response. Teams from Mechanical, Carriage & Wagon, Safety, Operations, Commercial, Railway Protection Force , Medical, Civil Defence, Personnel Branch, Finance, and Signal & Telecom participated actively. Local fire services and ambulance units were also involved to assess inter-agency cooperation and response.
Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Shri Lalit Bohra explained that the drill’s objective of evaluating readiness and coordination during accidents and disaster management. “We used three coaches—one air-conditioned and two non-AC—to help rescue teams practice accessing and extricating passengers from different coach types,” he explained. Evacuees posing as passengers received medical care on site, and damaged coach sections were rerailed according to safety protocols.
AC coaches, due to their specific structure, required specialised tools and techniques, which the drill successfully tested. Teams also demonstrated underwater rescue capabilities, highlighting their preparedness for a range of emergency scenarios.
Senior officers of various departments supervised the proceedings, checking communication systems, emergency supplies, first aid, and medical arrangements. “Preparedness is vital for saving lives during unforeseen incidents. This drill ensures every team member understands their responsibilities and strengthens our real-time crisis response,” DRM Shri Lalit Bohra concluded.
