Taking note of the ‘lackadaisical attitude’ of railway authorities in providing speedy treatment to accident victims, the Bombay High Court on Thursday asked the divisional railway commissioners of the western and central railways to attend court on February 12.
The HC was hearing a plea filed by Sameer Zaveri, who lost both legs in a train accident. “Why can’t you buy ambulances and have them outside stations?” asked Chief Justice Swatanter Kumar.
A.N. Samant, lawyer for central railways told the court that they have their own ambulances parked outside CST and Kalyan, in addition to having two railway hospitals, at Byculla and Kalyan.
Suresh Kumar, lawyer for the western railways told the court that the number of deaths had reduced substantially. “Over the last five years, the number of deaths has been between 1,088 and 1,100. However, in the period of July-December 2008 it is 272,” said Kumar. To which the chief justice said, “You can’t get satisfaction from the fact that number has come down to 272.”
The stations masters have been allocated Rs 700 for transportation of accident victims, added Kumar. The minimum time taken to send the victim to the hospital was two minutes to 30 minutes, he said.
{{/usCountry}}The stations masters have been allocated Rs 700 for transportation of accident victims, added Kumar. The minimum time taken to send the victim to the hospital was two minutes to 30 minutes, he said.
{{/usCountry}}Refuting the railways claim, Zaveri brought record of an accident at Kanjurmarg station where the victim was picked up from the spot after an hour and 15 minutes.
The HC has asked the CR to file an affidavit on this.