I was shocked to see railway linemen working at Madgaon Railway Station with their bare hands, sans any safety gear, no proper harness, no gloves, no insulated rubber shoes, no reflective jacket etc.
They were repairing a high-tension electrical line on the railway tracks. Are the poor souls’ lives so expendable or is it that the Indian Railways is short of funds that they are not able to provide atleast basic safety gear to its workers.
All across the railway over bridges over the tracks there are signs with skull and crossbones logo warning passengers against high voltage wires, but does it not apply to your own workmen? I shudder to think the consequences of a mishap. The Ministry of Railways should conduct a workers and equipment safety audit across railway stations in India and initiate corrective measures where required.
