Tuesday, June 27 2006 15:38 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Indian Railways is ill-equipped to carry out medical relief services during accidents and disasters, Comproller and Auditor General has held.

The CAG made this observation after auditing several important installations of the Railways associated with various aspects of the medical care from manufacturing equipments to training of staff as also hospitals to deal with accidents and disasters.

The CAG, in its report on the Performance Appraisal of Medical and Health Services in Railways, cited several examples where it found that hospitals were ill-equipped due to non-availability of essential medical equipments, trained staff and other facilities.

Noting that one of the responsibilities of Medical and Health Department (MHD) in Railways is to provide health service in case of accidents and disaster, it said the MHD should have Accident Relief Medical Equipment (ARME) and Trained staff to carry out relief services.

Citing instances of ill-preparedness, it said the disaster management machinery of Bilaspur Central Hospital have not been built up adequately mainly due to non- procurement of essential equipment like air-conditioned mortuary, collapsable coffins and body bags.

The CAG observed that despite instructions from General Manager, the medical equipments which became obsolete were not replaced.

In an inspection by Chief Operations Manager of Southeast Central Railway, first-aid boxes were found to be without seal and medicines, it said adding that adequate staff for disaster management activity both for routine and emergency work was not available.