RPF, NDRF, IRIDM sign MoU to boost railway disaster response, ‘golden hour’ preparedness

Raipur
The Railway Protection Force (RPF), the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and the Indian Railways Institute of Disaster Management (IRIDM), Bengaluru, signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Tuesday. The signing ceremony took place at the Panchwati Conference Room in Rail Bhavan, New Delhi.

The MoU was executed by B. V. Rao, IG (Training), RPF; Narendra Singh Bundela, IG, NDRF; and Srinivas, Director, IRIDM. Senior officials present on the occasion included R. Rajagopal, Member (Traction and Rolling Stock) (MTRS), Railway Board; Aruna Nair, DG/HR; Piyush Anand, DG/NDRF; and Sonali Mishra, DG/RPF, along with other senior officers from the NDRF and RPF.

This partnership establishes a clear institutional framework for relief operations and capacity building, specifically tailored to railway accident scenarios. The agreement places special emphasis on saving lives during the crucial ‘Golden Hour’.

Sonali Mishra stressed the need for effective cooperation and coordination among all stakeholders, and said Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) must be prepared in this regard.

R. Rajagopal said the focus should also be on natural calamities like cyclones, heavy rainfall, and heatwaves, apart from man-made disasters. He praised the capacity-building initiatives of the Jagjivan Ram RPF Academy (JRRPFA) and IRIDM, particularly those centred on rescue and relief operations during the ‘Golden Hour’.

Piyush Anand, in his address, emphasised that all agencies involved in disaster impact mitigation must function as a single team. He also suggested including other railway agencies in the capacity-building efforts.

The collaboration implements a scalable and repeatable mechanism to strengthen national railway disaster preparedness. This aims to provide swift, safer, and more coordinated relief to passengers and staff when every minute is critical.

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🔹 Key Features of the Agreement

1. Focus on ‘Golden Hour’ Outcomes:
Every drill and protocol aims to minimise critical minutes to ensure quick access to coaches, prompt first aid, and effective evacuation.

2. Railway-Specific First Response:
The RPF will build special coach- and track-oriented capabilities, especially for rescue in confined spaces, to ensure correct initial action at the accident site.

3. Standardised, Shared Coach-Evacuation SOPs:
IRIDM will align protocols for the sequence of entry, stabilisation, cutting plans, patient packaging, and handover.

4. Interoperability by Design:
Shared radio etiquette, checklists, and joint site-coordination drills will ensure agencies work as an integrated unit during rescue and relief operations.

5. Progressive, Three-Tier Training Programme:
Includes:

• Module A (Basic Training) at JRRPFA
• Module B (Field Sensitisation) at designated NDRF battalions
• Module C (Advanced Simulation-Based Modules) at IRIDM

This will develop repeatable and scalable skills across the system.

6. Clear Roles and Responsibilities:

• JRRPFA: Designated as the nodal hub.
• NDRF: Will conduct sensitisation at the battalion level and participate in joint courses.
• IRIDM: Will design, update, and document scenario-based courses.

This framework is scalable across all Zonal Railways and structured for continuous review and improvement in the coming years.