State health dept does its bit, Ministers visit the accident site and hospitals

SANKHA GHOSH, SNS, SILIGURI, 14 JANUARY 22 : The state health department has arranged for treatment of passengers injured in the Bikaner- Guwahati Express train crash on a war footing. Seven of the injured are under-going treatment in the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital (NBMCH) in Siliguri, it is learnt.

Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, two Rajasthan ministers--minister for disaster management & relief, administrative reforms and coordination, statistic policy planning department Govind Ram Meghwal, and minister of state for power (Independent Charge), IGNE water resources department, Bhanwar Singh Bhati, visited health facilities, including the NBMCH, to inquire about the health condition of the injured today

Meanwhile, as blood banks face an acute shortage of blood, various voluntary organistations came forward with blood donation camps for the train accident victims since yesterday. The NSS unit of Siliguri College, TMCB DYFI, among others, organised the camps, while the Siliguri Welfare Organisation gave 35 units of blood. It had yesterday collected 15 units.

According to the director of the Regional Blood Transfusion Centre at the NBMCH, Dr Mridumay Das, they have received 140 units of blood since yesterday.

The director of health services, health and family welfare department, Dr Ajoy Chakraborty, said 65 ambulances had been pressed into service from Jalpaiguri to the accident site and 10 from Cooch Behar yesterday

"From Jalpaiguri, five block medical officers of health (BMOH), the deputy chief medical officers of health-II, III visited the accident site, along with the CMOH, Jalpaiguri. Blood and all other necessary arrangements have been made at the Jalpaiguri Super Specialty Hospital. A team of surgeons, orthopaedic surgeons, anesthetists, along 

with medicine specialists, have been formed for emergency response," Dr Chakraborty said.

Nine passengers were killed and more than 50 injured when 12 coaches of the train jumped tracks at Domohoni under the Maynaguri block in Jalpaiguri district yesterday

"Apart from that, eight ambulances were sent from Falakata Super Specialty Hospital and Birpara state general hospital, five from Alipurduar district hospital and three more from an NGO," Dr Chakraborty added.

Meanwhile, doctors said they had to amputate the left ankle of a resident of Cooch Behar, Manik Oraon, in the NBMCH. "We met the injured persons. Two Rajasthan residents are undergoing treatment in the NBMCH. We are satisfied with the treatment, care they are receiving here," Minister Meghwal said.

According to Mr Bhati, they would report of the situation to Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot.