In its annual report for the year 2021- 2022, the Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety (CCRS) has drawn attention to the concerning state of fire safety measures in Indian Railways, specifically in local trains and MEMU (Mainline Electric Multiple Unit) trains. The report reveals the absence of fire detection and suppression systems in these trains, posing a significant risk to the safety of millions of passengers.
When contacted, a senior railway official said fire detection and suppression systems are not available in MEMU and EMU trains, authorities concerned are working on it. Similarly a WR official also said that work of installation of fire detection systems in local trains are on.
The Mumbai suburban system, alone, caters to a staggering daily passenger load of approximately 70 lakh (7 million) passengers. Despite this heavy congestion, local train coaches lack vital fire safety features such as heat and smoke detectors in passenger areas. The CCRS emphasises the urgent need for their installation, along with an interface to the Main Control Panel (MCP) that would trigger an immediate power supply disconnection upon smoke detection. Such measures would effectively prevent the spread of fire caused by short circuits or other hazards.
The report further highlights critical areas within local trains, such as electrical cubicles and panel rooms, which remain devoid of smoke cum heat detectors. The installation of Optical Fiber-based Linear Heat Detectors in these vulnerable areas is proposed as an essential step to mitigate fire incidents. These detectors would significantly enhance the prevention and early detection of fires.
Moreover, the report raises concerns about the fire load (fire heat release rate) of local train coaches, considering their substantial daily commuter capacity. To ensure passenger safety, the CCRS strongly recommends equipping all trains with Automatic Fire Suppression systems. These systems would not only promptly detect fires at their incipient stages but also enable swift control and suppression without relying on human intervention, thereby potentially saving lives.
The current provision of fire extinguishers solely in the motorman/guard cabs at both ends of the trains is deemed inadequate. The report stresses the need for a reinforced protection system to address this deficiency effectively.
Additionally, the CCRS suggests the installation of CCTV cameras with recording capabilities in all coaches of Indian Railways. These cameras would function as vital evidence-gathering tools in case of fire incidents or other emergencies. To protect the recorded footage, storage devices similar to the black boxes used in aeroplanes are recommended. Locating these storage devices in the under frame of the coaches, which is less prone to damage during fires, is proposed as a suitable solution.
Passenger activist Samir Zaveri has expressed concerns regarding the implementation of fire safety recommendations provided by the Commission of Railway Safety in its annual report for 2021-2022. He emphasises that the railway authorities should prioritise the swift adoption of these recommendations to ensure the safety of lakhs (hundreds of thousands) of daily passengers
