[Big A]

About 32 sleeping people were roasted alive in the TN Express about Nellore. It is the same culprit "short-circuit" that caused the fire. I think Short Circuit is the biggest killer these days. Or something else in this case? Of course the customary announcements like 'compensation' for the victims/kins and 'official inquiry initiated' will follow the short-circuit fault. Many lives are just lost due to indifference to duty. Poor or rich a life cannot be compensated. So many occurrences of short-circuit, neither science nor electrical engineering seems to have answer. Is it not possible by science/electrical engineering to avert such extremities? I think it is possible if the eligible and responsible community rises to the occasion.

[doctorzlo]

Adding fuel to the fire...
is using inflammable materials in the coaches
for the extra comfort in berths and cushions.
The absence of smoke alarm is another aspect.
Until the fire become a roaring fire no one will know about it.
It is said that whosoever ventured to go out after dark in ancient Rome
used to write his will before he left the house.
There was guarantee that he would come back home safe or alive!

[TorryJens]

Substandard products, drawing out more current than the safe limits,
lack of maintenance are additional reasons for such accidents.

I saw a huge man sleeping on the foldable berth in the A.C couch, sprawling his legs and arms, blocking the way to the toilet through the narrow bottle neck of the passage.

He was the one who slept soundest
and he was the A.C mechanic.

[brraverishhh]

Adding fuel to the fire...
is using inflammable materials in the coaches
for the extra comfort in berths and cushions.
The absence of smoke alarm is another aspect.
Until the fire become a roaring fire no one will know about it.
It is said that whosoever ventured to go out after dark in ancient Rome
used to write his will before he left the house.
There was guarantee that he would come back home safe or alive!

Yes Madam you are right. Instead of providing luxury and comfort, they must ensure safety of the passengers who have to plan and struggle to get into a particular day's train. Not a single ministry of the central government is working, least of all Railway Ministry. Poor Passengers have no idea where they would be going.

[Raj_Copi_Jin]

About 32 sleeping people were roasted alive in the TN Express about Nellore. It is the same culprit "short-circuit" that caused the fire. I think Short Circuit is the biggest killer these days. Or something else in this case? Of course the customary announcements like 'compensation' for the victims/kins and 'official inquiry initiated' will follow the short-circuit fault. Many lives are just lost due to indifference to duty. Poor or rich a life cannot be compensated. So many occurrences of short-circuit, neither science nor electrical engineering seems to have answer. Is it not possible by science/electrical engineering to avert such extremities? I think it is possible if the eligible and responsible community rises to the occasion.

" Is it not possible by science/electrical engineering to avert such extremities? "

Being an Engineer myself ..I can very well say short circuit can not be eliminated totally.. but there are enough gadgets like ELCB [Earth Leakage Breaker].. MCB [Miniature Circuit breakers] are available.. These Gadgets will immediately cut power supply and thereby eliminate/minimize the damage..The regretable point is most of these gadgets are either not provided or not working because of poor maintenance.. It is mandatory that all electrical wiring are to be replaced once in two years but nobody follows .. even in our houses..To my knowldge no fire extinguisher is provided in any of the railway coaches..

It is a common factor for anyone to blame the electrical short circuit immediately as reason for any fire accident..but we know the very short circuit can be prevented if proper checks are made as preventive measure...

Now another theory is being circulated ..there was an explosive sound..a kerosine tin was found...the Minister himself suspect sabotage..

TVK

[Paul Bunyan]

I have seen crackpots carrying Diwali fireworks and sparklers in the train.
Others carry portable stoves and kerosene cans.
It beats me to think how people can care so less for their own safety!

[S.T.D.]

Yes Madam you are right. Instead of providing luxury and comfort, they must ensure safety of the passengers who have to plan and struggle to get into a particular day's train. Not a single ministry of the central government is working, least of all Railway Ministry. Poor Passengers have no idea where they would be going.

Poor passenger know which place they set out to

but have no idea of where they will end up in!!!

[NeroASERCH]

Saw this on TV today..real sad.
I can imagine the pain and torture they went through.
Really sad.

[Big A]

The big fire in mantralaya, mumbai (assembly building) was attributed to short circuit; the fire in the home ministry in delhi a week later was attributed to short circuit; fire in four shrines in kashmir last month are also attributed to short circuit.

Even though circuit breakers and fuses are provided to disconnect when there is a short circuit, these are always bypassed with copper wire which will never blow. Even in weddings and public functions, videographers run miles of cables over floor and carpets and with extension boxes without MCB protection. In expensive equipment due care is taken to use only semiconductor or HRC fuse of correct rating (of course, to protect the equipment); but the same rule is not applied when humans are involved.

Initially the safety norms are bypassed when there is an emergency and substitute is not available; but soon this violation becomes a regular practice.

" Is it not possible by science/electrical engineering to avert such extremities? "

Being an Engineer myself ..I can very well say short circuit can not be eliminated totally.. but there are enough gadgets like ELCB [Earth Leakage Breaker].. MCB [Miniature Circuit breakers] are available.. These Gadgets will immediately cut power supply and thereby eliminate/minimize the damage..The regretable point is most of these gadgets are either not provided or not working because of poor maintenance.. It is mandatory that all electrical wiring are to be replaced once in two years but nobody follows .. even in our houses..To my knowldge no fire extinguisher is provided in any of the railway coaches..

It is a common factor for anyone to blame the electrical short circuit immediately as reason for any fire accident..but we know the very short circuit can be prevented if proper checks are made as preventive measure...

Now another theory is being circulated ..there was an explosive sound..a kerosine tin was found...the Minister himself suspect sabotage..

TVK

[NeroASERCH]

Is it short circuit or short sight?

Damn officials..........

[9mm_fan]

One of the reasons mentioned in paper regarding fire alarms not installed in trains is that if it is installed it will blow whistle every now and then cos smoking in trains cannot be strictly prohibited. How far it is true god only knows.

[Beerinkol]

Is it short circuit or short sight?

Damn officials..........

What Mr. Sarang said in post#9 is the correct diagnosis of the problem.
Initially the safety norms are bypassed when there is an emergency and substitute is not available; but soon this violation becomes a regular practice. Then it is the blame game, pointing fingers.

[Lt_Apple]

I have seen in our area not only circuit breakers are blown out in many cases but overload power destroyed the valuables fridge (compressor), TV, a'cs, fan coils burnt, regulators broken into pieces and thrown all over. Surely one gets a doubt in the name of CB what they make and supply. This is not the first time such accident has occured. One warning should activate 100 brains in the trade and there should be 500 useful ideas to save lives. No sir, it is total indifference to life's safety. The officials will float 10 reasons or ultimately blame it on sabotage. In internal inquiries they will be half way up and hush it up because of various interests (lot of money is exchanged in hushing up cases). That is why I say any idea to totally avoid such recurrence or at least minimize the impact of loss of life could be possible taking into account the irresponsibility of the ministry, indifference of people maintaining the services. to make tamper-proof gadgets for the sake of the precious lives. Maybe many in the West are working on this, but can we not overtake them here. These are all discussions for the board. But you know there never is Railway Board Meeting to discus matters of public concern.

[Raj_Copi_Jin]

From Deccan_Chronicle, with no comment.


train safety.jpeg

[TorryJens]

Experts from the Andhra Pradesh Forensic Science Laboratory, who examined the Tamil Nadu Express where the fire broke out on Monday, have ruled out sabotage. Some passengers had said they heard a big sound before the fire broke out, but the forensic experts found no remnants of explosives or any blast marks in the S11 coach.

[doctorzlo]

It is a well known fact that Railway Ministry cares two hoots for Railway safety & security...The Railway Ministers are more interested in increasing the number of coaches, or adding new stops or adding a new train service...There is hardly any incentive for safety

We are aware about the status of our ex Railway Minister who tried to raise passenger fares in Feb 2012 to raise additional revenue for cauital expenditure on Modernisation and Safety of railways...After declaring the fare raise in his budget speech he had to eat humble pie from his own whimsical boss and had to ultimately relinquish his chair

Had the Railways installed a flame detection system to sound alarm and warn passengers, this loss of lives in the TN Express accident could have been prevented.

Also a simple ladder which is foldable and deployable could have helped passengers to get out in the pitch dark night, otherwise the elderly had to jump and break their bones


What is shocking is that most of the facilities which are listed in the High level Safety review committee report have not seen the light of the day...You can click on following link..It has been vetted by none other than E Sreedharan...You cannot doubt the members intentions..It has been released in Feb 2012.

Indianrailways High Level Safety Review Committee


We need a complete shake up in the Railway establishment and bring accountability on safety...A paradigm shift is required in managing safety and it should be viewed as a hygiene factor and not treated as a luxury.

[Ifroham4]

Prime Minister receives all accolades for not being PM. Former FM had no idea about the course Indian economy is taking. Former HM (now FM) was going to solve terrorist problem but he was bogged down in the east by naxalite actions. The Education Minister is a seasonal functionary; you will know his ideas only at the end of this academic term. The new HM has said he had a successful stint at Power (like doctors say: operation is successful but the patient died!). The new power minister says there will be no more grid failure. We believe him because he has not said that there will be enough power supply to needs. Readers, you know where India is going!

[brraverishhh]

Prime Minister receives all accolades for not being PM. Former FM had no idea about the course Indian economy is taking. Former HM (now FM) was going to solve terrorist problem but he was bogged down in the east by naxalite actions. The Education Minister is a seasonal functionary; you will know his ideas only at the end of this academic term. The new HM has said he had a successful stint at Power (like doctors say: operation is successful but the patient died!). The new power minister says there will be no more grid failure. We believe him because he has not said that there will be enough power supply to needs. Readers, you know where India is going!