The North Western Railway zone of Indian Railways has unveiled an innovative emergency response system called ‘Rail Rakshak.’ This cutting-edge road-based rescue team is specifically designed to address track-related emergencies in challenging and isolated track locations.
Given the extensive rail network in India that traverses diverse terrains including jungles, tunnels, hills, and isolated areas, traditional track-based emergency response systems like rail ambulances and cranes often struggle to reach incident sites quickly when tracks are disturbed because of an accident. The Rail Rakshak system aims to overcome these limitations by deploying specialised vehicles, state-of-the-art equipment, and a dedicated team of experts known as the ‘Rail Rakshak Dal.’
“These are the mobile units, first time in Indian Railways, that have been considered to be employed in case of any emergency. One team consists of six members. Five of them are from the Railway Protection Force and one member is from the Carriage and Wagon department. They have received training and are equipped to deal with emergency situations,” said Captain Shashi Kiran, Chief Public Relation Officer of North Western Railways.
Launched as a three-year pilot project in August by the North Western Railway (NWR), the ‘Rail Rakshak’ initiative is already earning praise for its innovative approach and forward-thinking design. What sets it apart is not just the cutting-edge equipment, but the highly trained team behind it. These railway professionals undergo extensive additional training in route mapping, equipment operation and maintenance, and coordination with local authorities, ensuring they are fully equipped to handle emergencies efficiently.
“The teams have got 1 week training at NWR by existing breakdown supervisors for equipment handling and coach layout. They have also received 4 week training at NDRF training center covering First Aid training, Rescue Operation under different disaster scenarios in golden hours and other aspects,” the CPRO added.
Each Rail Rakshak team operates in three groups, with two members in each group. Teams are stationed at various locations including Bandikui, Jaipur, Lalgarh, Bikaner, Udaipur, Ajmer, and Merta Road/Jodhpur. Team members also receive an incentive of 10 per cent of basic pay while they are in the team.
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