Jamshedpur, September 07, 2026: A total of 190 loco pilots from across the railway network underwent specialised training in first aid, firefighting and disaster management at the Electric Loco Pilot Training Centre in Jamshedpur on Monday.
The programme was organised by Rail Civil Defence to prepare loco pilots to respond effectively during train accidents and other emergency situations. Participants came from Ranchi, Jharsuguda, Rourkela, Chakradharpur, Dongwaposi, Adra, Kharagpur, Santragachi and Tatanagar.
Civil Defence Inspector and President’s Award recipient Santosh Kumar stressed the importance of taking immediate action at an accident site instead of remaining a bystander.
He said the initial response after an accident can be crucial for an injured person, particularly during the golden hour. Since loco pilots can be among the first railway personnel to reach an accident site, knowledge of basic emergency care is particularly important for them.
Hands-on first aid and triage exercises
The training covered triage, prioritising injured people for treatment, safe evacuation by ambulance and essential measures during the golden hour.
Participants also received practical instruction on using triangular bandages to make narrow and broad bandages. Demonstrations covered methods of controlling bleeding and bandaging injuries involving the head, chin, hands, knees and chest, including situations involving burns.
The programme went beyond classroom instruction, with participants taking part in mock drills.
CPR and firefighting drills conducted
Mock exercises were organised on CPR and the safe use of firefighting equipment. Demonstrators Anil Kumar Singh and Ramesh Kumar conducted practical demonstrations.
Women loco pilots also participated in a hands-on exercise involving the use of a fire extinguisher to tackle a fire caused by an LPG cylinder.
The participants included loco pilots undergoing passenger, mail-express and refresher courses. Senior loco pilots appreciated the Civil Defence team’s practical approach to the training.
According to Civil Defence officials, more than 20,000 loco pilots have so far received multidisciplinary training in disaster relief and emergency response.
