Emergency Medical Rooms at 14 stations

Mumbai: The Central Railway (CR) has informed the Bombay high court that it has set up emergency medical rooms (EMRs) at 14 suburban stations, and will be setting up such facilities at 24 more stations during phase III and IV.

The CR filed an affidavit in reply to a public interest litigation (PIL) related to deaths at railway stations due to lack of emergency medical services during the “golden hour” (one hour after a medical emergency).

 The affidavit also stated that the number of accidental deaths and injuries had fallen after the CR had taken necessary steps.

A division bench of Justice Shantanu Kemkar and Justice Makarand Karnik was hearing a PIL filed by activist Sameer Zaveri, who lost both his legs in a rail accident.

The petition prayed for directions to the railway to set up emergency medical facilities at railway stations to ensure that accident victims got immediate treatment and their lives were saved.

The CR submitted an affidavit listing the work undertaken by it, including setting up and commissioning of EMRs at 14 stations.

The affidavit said that out of the remaining 12 stations which had been shortlisted, EMRs would be commissioned soon at five stations, while work was underway for another five.

In all, the CR had decided to set up EMRs at 26 stations during phase I and II. And, EMRs would be set up at 24 more stations during phase III and IV.

The CR expressed its inability to set up EMRs at 18 stations on the central and harbour line due to space constraints or meagre traffic.