NHRC takes serious view of the reported callous attitude of the Railway staff leading to the death of the two ailing passengers; issues notices to the Chairman, Railway Board (05.08.2016)
PRESS RELEASE
New Delhi, 5th August, 2016
The National Human Rights Commission has taken a serious view of the reported callous attitude of Railway staff, on board the trains, leading to the death of two passengers within a span of two weeks as they were not provided any medical assistance, despite requests, even as the trains passed through various stations. It has issued notices to the Chairman Railway Board calling for reports in both the incidents within four weeks along with information on the arrangements put in place for providing emergency medical health to the passengers during the journey.
Taking suo motu cognizance of both the incidents reported in the media on the 2nd and the 3rd July, 2016 respectively, the Commission has also noted that its seems the Railway staff, including the RPF on board the trains and the ground staff at stations, appear to be totally unaware of their accountability towards the health and safety needs of passengers. It has observed that the contents of the news reports are extremely painful. The two precious human lives could have been saved if timely medical help to both the passengers was provided.
In the first incident, 17 year old Afsari Bano fell ill on board the 'Godan Express' and despite repeated requests by her mother to the Guard, she was not provided any medical assistance at any station enroute 389 Kilometers between Kalyan and Bhusawal on the 31st July, 2016. Not only that, her body remained in the coach for another 741 Kilometers, when at Satna finally, it was brought down the next morning.
In the second incident, Mohammad Asif, aged 21 years, on board the Utkal Express suffered from loose motion and vomiting. The victim made several requests to the T.T.E. for help. The train stopped at about 20 small and big railway stations, but he was not provided medial aid. It was too late to save his life when finally after more than 15 hours of painful journey when he was eventually deboarded at Bilaspur and taken to a hospital.
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New Delhi, 5th August, 2016
The National Human Rights Commission has taken a serious view of the reported callous attitude of Railway staff, on board the trains, leading to the death of two passengers within a span of two weeks as they were not provided any medical assistance, despite requests, even as the trains passed through various stations. It has issued notices to the Chairman Railway Board calling for reports in both the incidents within four weeks along with information on the arrangements put in place for providing emergency medical health to the passengers during the journey.
Taking suo motu cognizance of both the incidents reported in the media on the 2nd and the 3rd July, 2016 respectively, the Commission has also noted that its seems the Railway staff, including the RPF on board the trains and the ground staff at stations, appear to be totally unaware of their accountability towards the health and safety needs of passengers. It has observed that the contents of the news reports are extremely painful. The two precious human lives could have been saved if timely medical help to both the passengers was provided.
In the first incident, 17 year old Afsari Bano fell ill on board the 'Godan Express' and despite repeated requests by her mother to the Guard, she was not provided any medical assistance at any station enroute 389 Kilometers between Kalyan and Bhusawal on the 31st July, 2016. Not only that, her body remained in the coach for another 741 Kilometers, when at Satna finally, it was brought down the next morning.
In the second incident, Mohammad Asif, aged 21 years, on board the Utkal Express suffered from loose motion and vomiting. The victim made several requests to the T.T.E. for help. The train stopped at about 20 small and big railway stations, but he was not provided medial aid. It was too late to save his life when finally after more than 15 hours of painful journey when he was eventually deboarded at Bilaspur and taken to a hospital.
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