Sainthia Train Accident - A Case Study in Disaster Management


Dr. Saumitra Mohan





Disasters keep happening and they happen anywhere in the world and when they happen, there is no prior information. They just happen and then have demands over human faculties of management and coordination to tackle the same. So, once has to anticipate them and be prepared for them in advance. That is what disaster management is all about. Today, disaster management has been perfected as an art by many countries and that is why we often witness clinical rescue and relief operations in many of the disasters. India is slowly joining this elite club with a National Disaster Management Policy and Plan being in place. Today, almost all the government departments, particularly all the district administration across the country have their own disaster management plan in place, something that has proved to be of great help. The disaster management plan and corresponding logistics mechanism in Birbhum district was also of great help when a train accident struck in the dead of the night.

This train accident took place at Sainthia Railway Station (under Sainthia PS of Suri Sadar Sub-Division) on 19/07 2010 at 2.05 a.m. due to collision between 3404 DN Bananchal Express and 3148 DN Uttarbanga Express. As it transpired, the engine of 3148 DN Uttarbanga Express collided and rammed into the rear of the 3404 DN Bananchal Exp, which at the time of the collision was still stationed at platform no. four at Sainthia Railway Station.

Immediately on receipt of the news of the accident, the police mobile van of the local police station reached the spot at 2.25 a.m. The officials belonging to the district and police administration, including myself and SP Birbhum rushed to the spot. We reached the accident site by 3 a.m. along with a big rescue and relief team comprising civil defence volunteers, medical teams, ambulances, big vehicles, dead body carriers, casual labourers, more police forces and fire brigade among others. We started our rescue operations immediately. It was revealed that the last two compartments of 3404 DN Bananchal Exp. were severely damaged and mangled as a result of the accident. The existence of a Disaster Management Plan with the names and contact numbers of all those concerned including the list of ambulances and NGOs proved to be of a great help in mobilization of the entire disaster management team at a short notice.

We could also contact and mobilize a large number of local volunteers belonging to different clubs and NGOs who also assisted us in the rescue operations. Some of them helped us with the relief works at the Hospital as well. More than 50 Ambulances were sent to the accident spot from all corners of the district and the injured, after being rescued, were brought to Suri Sadar hospital. The bodies of the dead passengers were also brought to the morgue of Suri Sadar Hospital. Gas cutters from nearby workshops were also brought in to be used in the rescue operation. And with the help of these cutters, a number of bodies entangled and trapped inside the mangled compartments were taken out. Civil and police administration, with the help of the local people, managed to rescue all the injured passengers by 7 a.m. in the morning.

A total of 96 injured passengers and dead bodies of 61 persons were brought to Suri Sadar Hospital. 54 injured passengers were referred to Bardhaman Medical College Hospital as their condition was found to be critically serious. The others were provided treatment at Suri. New clothes were also provided to all of them. Those in position to talk and having contact numbers of their relatives were helped to contact their relatives in their respective places. Later, two of the referred passengers died at Bardhaman Medical College Hospital, taking the final death toll to 63. It was timely and proper medical attention which kept death toll figures in check. Considering the inadequate arrangement at Suri Sadar Hospital for storing such large number of dead bodies, the district administration, to prevent decomposition of the corpses, immediately arranged for large quantity of ice from all over the district and even from places outside the district like Kandi (Murshidabad) and Asansol (Burdwan) to have in place improvised morgues within the Hospital premises.

Presuming there might be need for more blood later and since we were not sure as to how much units of blood we might need, we immediately contacted and arranged for sufficient blood from the neighbouring hospitals in and around the districts. We also had blood donation camps organized on the morning of the accident to collect more blood. Besides, we had with us the names of over three hundred volunteers ready to donate blood as and when demanded. By the time the injured were brought to the Hospital, we actually had excess blood.

A help line was opened within the hospital premises since 7 a.m. on the same day i.e. 19th July, 2010. The relatives and friends of the injured and dead who arrived at Suri Sadar Hospital since the occurrence of the accident were provided with all kinds of assistance. A round-the-clock Assistance Booth was opened at the Suri Sadar Hospital along with the photographs of the dead and injured passengers to help the relatives identify their near and dear ones, something which worked very well. We could also rope in the local and regional media houses to flash these photos on their TV screens to help the families of the affected passengers. The management of Hospital activities involved with the relief was closely supervised and monitored leading to the best results.

Doctors from other Govt. hospitals in and around districts also assisted in treating the injured and in conducting PM inspections. As per instruction received from the Department of Health and Family Welfare Deptt, some 20 dead bodies were sent to BMCH, Bardhaman the next day for proper preservation, DNA testing and post-mortem (PM). These bodies were also identified and released to the relatives as they arrived. As both the Indian Railways and the Government of West Bengal had announced various benefits to the injured and dead passengers including financial grants and jobs, it was necessary to ensure that the bodies were released to right persons to avoid any complications, noting down the names, contact number and addresses of all the relatives who came down to have the bodies released to them. Almost all the dead bodies were identified by their near relatives and after conducting of PM inspection, all these dead bodies, respectfully wrapped in body bags and coffins, were handed over to them. The arrangements for short stay and dead passengers as and when requested by them. The dead bodies were carefully handed over to the identified and confirmed families of the deceased after receiving proper details and confirmation about the relationship for future reference relating to compensation and other requirements.

The district administration also provided vehicles, when demanded, to the relatives of the dead and injured passengers so that they could carry the bodies to their respective places (Kolkata, Bhagalpur, Sahebganj, Godda et al in West Bengal or neighbouring Jharkhand) for disposal or for treatment.

The entire operation lasted barely three days and it was the first day which was more exacting and demanding in terms of the logistics required. And even on the first day, it was the first few hours which were more crucial. After we could mobile all the concerned people and departments in time, everything fell in place. There was also a 'Planning Group' working during the entire rescue and relief operation which was always thinking hard as to what to do next to make the operation better and then there a 'Core Executing Group' which translated the thinking into action.

But one does feel the need to beef up the disaster inventory i.e. the need to have customized stocks for every envisaged calamity and disaster so as to preempt the need to look for the same in need of hour. Our learnings from the Sainthia Train Accident amply prove the need for an effective disaster management plan and its efficient execution. In this case, the existence of a good information and communication plan did wonders and one is sure, shall remain a key to the success of any such disaster management.