'2 committees formed for fire safety audit in Rlys'

The Southern Railway today informed the Madras High Court that it has constituted two committees for a comprehensive fire safety audit on railways.
These included material used in coach construction and maintenance, checks against carrying inflammable materials on trains, availability of fire extinguishers and training of manpower in handling fire and fire safety equipment, it said before the first bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice P Sathyanarayanan.
This was stated by T Venkatasubramanian, Chief Rolling Stock Engineer, Mechanical Department, in an affidavit before the First Bench.
The affidavit was in response to a PIL filed by social activist Kannan Govindarajulu.

The petitioner sought a direction to the Railway Ministry to improve safety of passengers in running trains by providing fire extinguishers and implement augmented first aid in phases.
He cited various fire mishaps in the recent past and sought a direction to the Railways to improve safety measures.
On a notice from the first bench, a detailed reply affidavit was filed by Railways, which the bench recorded.
The bench noted that the counter was filed, listing steps taken to provide extinguishers and implement augmented first aid facilities in trains and said it showed the various steps taken and that some are in progress and then closed the petition.