Indian Railways adopts new SOPs on fire incidents in train By Sagar Mohod : Aiming to cut down fatalities in incidents of fire Indian Railways in a new advisory has asked travellers to avoid running rather they should crawl towards the exit. More importantly passengers must hold wet cloth upto their nostrils to block inhalation of toxic air inside the compartment. Studies of past incidents of fire revealed that more people have died due to suffocation rather than dying due to actual burning said the advisory issued by Safety Directorate Indian Railways. Chances of asphyxiation are more inside closed and crammed spaces and in such condition people need to avoid panic. Keeping cool ensures that even in unfavourable conditions a way out can be found out and stress as per advisory is to prevent inhalation of lethal air. Giving the reason the Safety Directorate said after fire lighter gases likes Carbon di-oxide and Carbon monoxide accumulates in upper part of coach and hence running would provide disadvantageous in such situation. Further oxygen being heavier is concentrated in lower part of bogie and hence the advantage with crawling. Experts said usage of wet cloth helps stop inhalation of poisonous fumes that have known bad effects on ones health. In recent past there has been spate of fires on board running long distance trains and hence the new advisory was released. The role of crew on board train is given utmost importance as they are advised to take charge of the situation and prevent it from going out of control. The Travel Ticket Examiners (TTEs) Train Conductors (TCs) attendants in air conditioned coaches pantry staff Guard Pilot and Assistant Pilots role is prescribed in details along with Dos and Donts for them. Studies have indicated that suffocation from smoke causes the death while flames reach upto travellers quite later. In the hindsight the train crew should act fast and put out the source of fire become it assumes dangerous proportion. At the outset all electrical appliances must be switched off and train taken to nearest watering station. Also train should not be stopped in tunnel or a over a bridge as in closed space fire fighting is difficult task and in some bridges there is no pathway adjoining the track to initiate fire control measures. Thus Loco Pilot should apply best judgment in case of such an eventuality while passing through a tunnel or bridge. But the railway experts also noted the difficulties for train crew to take control of situation in aftermath of incident of fire due to LHB types coaches it is now the norm over IR as once an alarm chain is pulled the vacuum brakes are applied automatically. In certain conditions if train crew are not able to control the fire it is advised to immediately contact Traction power controller for switching of power supply to over-head equipment (OHE). But before that the crew should ensure that affected coaches are isolated. The revised advisory from Safety Directorate of IR comes in aftermath of spate of incidents of fire on board running trains.

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