Jamshedpur: In a significant step toward strengthening railway safety preparedness, the Railway Civil Defence unit at Tatanagar conducted a comprehensive fire safety training programme for newly appointed Assistant Loco Pilots and loco pilots undergoing refresher courses. The session was held at the Electric Loco Pilot Training Centre and focused on fire prevention, emergency response protocols, and life-saving techniques.
The programme commenced with a prayer meeting, following which Civil Defence Inspector and President’s Award recipient Santosh Kumar delivered an in-depth session on potential causes of fire in train engines and coaches. He highlighted the grave risks posed by passengers carrying inflammable materials such as LPG cylinders, kerosene, petrol, and firecrackers. Careless disposal of lit matchsticks or smoking materials, gas leakages in pantry cars, and poor maintenance of electrical equipment were cited as major fire hazards.
Loose wiring, temporary connections, and technical faults in traction units or locomotives can further aggravate fire risks, he noted.
Inspector Kumar emphasized that inadequate maintenance of equipment, lack of safety devices, and disorganized electrical cabling significantly increase the likelihood of short circuits in engines.
Outlining the responsibilities of loco pilots during emergencies, he stressed the importance of halting the train at a safe location, activating flasher lights, evacuating passengers promptly, and immediately informing the Station Master. He also explained that a coach on fire must be isolated by detaching it at least 45 metres from adjacent coaches on both sides, and adequate protection measures must be taken to prevent the train from rolling. Participants were trained to use available resources such as water, sand, and soil to control minor fires effectively.
The session also detailed the fire-fighting equipment available on trains.
Each locomotive is equipped with four fire extinguishers, brake vans carry two, AC coaches have two each, while pantry and generator cars are fitted with four extinguishers each—resources that can prove crucial in containing small outbreaks.
In the second phase of the programme, demonstrator Shankar Kumar Prasad conducted hands-on training on the proper use of fire extinguishers and demonstrated Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) techniques.
Anamika Mandal provided practical guidance on first aid and bandaging methods.
A total of 430 trainee loco pilots from the Railway Recruitment Boards of Ranchi, Kolkata, and Malda participated in the programme. The participants lauded the advanced and structured training methodology of the Civil Defence team, describing the initiative as both timely and essential for ensuring passenger safety.
