The Tiruchi Railway Division has proposed to procure two drone cameras for aerial filming of rescue operations undertaken during railway accidents and other untoward incidents in the division.
The drone cameras are to be procured in accordance with the recommendation of a High Level Committee on Disaster Management to engage latest equipment during rescue and relief operations. The Safety Department of the Tiruchi Division has already initiated the process to procure the drone cameras. The Accident Relief Train and Accident Relief Medical Van formations stationed at Tiruchi and Villupuram Junctions would be provided with the drone cameras, Railway sources told The Hindu .
The Accident Relief Medical Van (ARMV) is deployed in case of injuries to passengers during rail accidents. The ARMV at Tiruchi is a self-propelled vehicle with power cars at both ends for immediate movement to the accident spot as and when required.
The Tiruchi Division was given a new self-propelled ARMV manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory in mid-2015.
The three-coach formation has large space to store medicines and other medical-related equipment and would immediately move with a team of doctors and para-medical staff to the accident spot for relief operations. It also has an air-conditioned operation theatre inside.
The Accident Relief Train is moved with men and equipment in case of accidents where there is no injuries such as goods derailment. The officials said the drone camera was an additional equipment to be equipped in the ART and ARMV for aerial filming of rescue operations.
The sources said the Tiruchi Railway Division already has an exhaustive and updated disaster management plan to respond swiftly during major train accidents, natural calamities and terrorism-related offences.
