The Indian Railways, as per reports, is intensifying efforts to ensure passenger safety by collaborating with state governments, police chiefs, and the National Investigation Agency (NIA). They are collaborating to identify miscreants attempting to disrupt train operations by placing objects on tracks, said Union Minister for Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday (Sep 24).

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:103,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:26,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1790}">Indian Railways on high alert</h2>

"The entire railway administration is on alert and is taking this matter seriously," said Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

"We are constantly in touch with all state governments. State DGPs, Home Secretaries, and the NIA are also involved," he added while talking to the press in Jaipur.

Also read |&nbsp;<a bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:247,&quot;w&quot;:691,&quot;h&quot;:34,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1934}" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/extra-judicial-killing-cop-who-shot-akshay-shinde-linked-to-encounter-specialist-pradeep-sharma-761542">Extra-judicial killing? Cop who shot Badlapur accused linked to ‘encounter specialist’ Pradeep Sharma</a>

The minister said that his ministry was coordinating with various railway zones and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) to investigate these incidents thoroughly.&nbsp;

"We will take strict action against anyone and everyone behind such illegal activities," he assured, adding that the administration was "working hard to ensure that no such incidents are repeated and that we can track down the offenders."

While the NIA has not formally registered a case related to recent sabotage incidents on railway tracks, an official, as per Indian media reports, indicated that they are informally investigating the matter.&nbsp;

"We look into all railways’ accidents informally and assist local police/other agencies in investigation to probe it from conspiracy angle," the official stated, adding that they are waiting for an official directive from the government to launch a comprehensive investigation.

This comes as earlier on Tuesday (Sep 24), three railway employees were arrested for allegedly&nbsp;carrying&nbsp;out sabotage themselves&nbsp;to get social media fame, promotion, and reward by raising alarm and alerting about&nbsp;it in time while putting several lives at risk.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/anna-sebastian-perayil-case-ey-pune-operating-since-2007-without-required-permits-761615">Anna Sebastian Perayil case: EY Pune operating since 2007 without required permits, reveal authorities</a>

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:633,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:26,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2320}">Railway tracks and harmful objects</h2>

This heightened vigilance follows multiple alarming incidents where railway drivers encountered dangerous objects on the tracks. For instance, on September 22, a goods train driver spotted a gas cylinder on the track and activated the emergency brakes just in time to avert a disaster.

Similar occurrences included the discovery of a damaged cylinder and other hazardous materials on September 15, just before the Kalindi Express arrived in Kanpur.

Additionally, on September 21, unidentified individuals removed a fishplate and key from a track in Uttar Pradesh, prompting&nbsp;alarm.&nbsp;In a separate incident, on Sunday, nine metal rods were found on the Bhatinda-Delhi route at around 3 am.

(With inputs from agencies)

The Indian Railways, as per reports, is intensifying efforts to ensure passenger safety by collaborating with state governments, police chiefs, and the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

The Indian Railways, as per reports, is intensifying efforts to ensure passenger safety by collaborating with state governments, police chiefs, and the National Investigation Agency (NIA). They are collaborating to identify miscreants attempting to disrupt train operations by placing objects on tracks, said Union Minister for Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday (Sep 24). Indian Railways on high alert "The entire railway administration is on alert and is taking this matter seriously," said Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. "We are constantly in touch with all state governments. State DGPs, Home Secretaries, and the NIA are also involved," he added while talking to the press in Jaipur. Also read | Extra-judicial killing? Cop who shot Badlapur accused linked to ‘encounter specialist’ Pradeep Sharma The minister said that his ministry was coordinating with various railway zones and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) to investigate these incidents thoroughly. "We will take strict action against anyone and everyone behind such illegal activities," he assured, adding that the administration was "working hard to ensure that no such incidents are repeated and that we can track down the offenders." While the NIA has not formally registered a case related to recent sabotage incidents on railway tracks, an official, as per Indian media reports, indicated that they are informally investigating the matter. "We look into all railways’ accidents informally and assist local police/other agencies in investigation to probe it from conspiracy angle," the official stated, adding that they are waiting for an official directive from the government to launch a comprehensive investigation. This comes as earlier on Tuesday (Sep 24), three railway employees were arrested for allegedly carrying out sabotage themselves to get social media fame, promotion, and reward by raising alarm and alerting about it in time while putting several lives at risk. Also read | Anna Sebastian Perayil case: EY Pune operating since 2007 without required permits, reveal authorities Railway tracks and harmful objects This heightened vigilance follows multiple alarming incidents where railway drivers encountered dangerous objects on the tracks. For instance, on September 22, a goods train driver spotted a gas cylinder on the track and activated the emergency brakes just in time to avert a disaster. Similar occurrences included the discovery of a damaged cylinder and other hazardous materials on September 15, just before the Kalindi Express arrived in Kanpur. Additionally, on September 21, unidentified individuals removed a fishplate and key from a track in Uttar Pradesh, prompting alarm. In a separate incident, on Sunday, nine metal rods were found on the Bhatinda-Delhi route at around 3 am. (With inputs from agencies)

Indian Railways ‘on high alert’, collaborates with NIA, police to stop rail track sabotage attempts

Is Boeing on the brink? In this edition of WION Decodes, we will explore the recent safety issues plaguing the aviation giant, from the 737 Max controversy to a series of production problems. With leadership shakeups and a potential production halt, boeing faces an uphill battle to regain trust from passengers, airlines, and regulators.

Boeing CEO to step down, but what about passenger safety?

Airlines world over make huge investments to hone the skills of pilots in their quest for the maintenance of high safety standards.

It is therefore incomprehensible that an astounding number of pilots of Indian carriers – 181 to be precise, as per statement made in Parliament, failed the mandatory breathalyser test prior to operating flights during the three year period 2015-18.

Pilots, in the course of their exhaustive training, are made to realise the significance of safety; that lives of hundreds of passengers depend on them, etc. Why do some of them then behave so immaturely and irresponsibly so as to fail the mandatory breathalyser test?&nbsp;

It’s a question that has defied a satisfactory response because the number of instances of pilots failing the test hasn’t shown any appreciable decline during the recent years and India’s track record continues to be more abysmal than most other countries.&nbsp;

Even if it is argued that while instances of pilots reporting in a drunken state year after year in absolute number may not have shown a decline, the reality of it going down as a percentage of flights operated cannot be overlooked. This is because the number of flights operated in these years has gone up significantly, as has the number of pilots in various airlines.&nbsp;

What is, however, perplexing is that even the tightening of action by the regulatory agency, the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has apparently failed to make the pilots understand the gravity of their lackadaisical approach.&nbsp;

As per new regulations introduced by the DGCA in 2015, more as a consequence of India’s safety rating downgrade by the Federal Aviation Administration of USA in the previous year, to curb the menace, all flights are now mandatorily covered through pre-flight checks whereas earlier checks were conducted only at random.&nbsp;

The punishment too has been made more stringent. Suspension of flying licence for the first instance of violation and revocation of licence for three years for a repeat offence.&nbsp;

Considering that pilots earn between Rs 3-8 lakh a month depending on their seniority, suspension of flying licence does translate into a huge financial punitive loss for them, but it seemingly is still failing to act as a deterrent.

It is imperative to dispel the often-cited, hastily drawn, conclusion that had the pilots not been stopped from operating the flight on failing the breathalyser test it would have resulted in a tragedy.&nbsp;

The breathalyser tests are stringent as even negligible traces of alcohol in breath result in pilots being kept away from operating the flight. The pilot unions have always termed these standards as too stringent, but their reservation is only to be expected considering whose interests they seek to represent and protect.&nbsp;

Rule 24 of the Aircraft Rules states “No person acting as, or carried in aircraft for the purpose of acting as pilot, commander, navigator, engineer, cabin crew or the other operating member of the crew thereof, shall have taken or used any alcoholic drink, sedative, narcotic, or stimulant drug preparation within 12 hours of the commencement of the flight...”

Pilots failing breathalyser test is also not a phenomenon restricted to India alone. Nineteen pilots of Japan Airlines since August 2018 have failed the breathalyser test forcing the airline to ban alcohol consumption 24 hours before a flight, instead of the earlier 12 hours.

Likewise, a Singapore Airlines pilot failed a random breathalyser test before captaining a transcontinental flight from Melbourne, Australia, to Wellington, New Zealand, three months ago. The flight had to be cancelled resulting in inconvenience to passengers because at foreign locations substitute pilots are not available.

DGCA may perhaps need to emulate the example of Japan Airlines because restrictions need to be guided by ground realities as they exist in India and not global benchmarks.

The argument that our current 12-hour ban is already higher than the eight-hour ban that exists for pilots in Europe and the USA can’t be held as merited because the problem needs to be curbed as the safety of passengers is paramount.

There are some who argue that the problem of pilots failing the breathalyser test is a consequence of stress caused by increasingly busy schedules as airlines expand operations, but it lacks credibility.&nbsp;

A more plausible reason could be our social environment where good-monied life means partying and partying can’t be without the liquor flowing freely. No one would grudge the pilots enjoying the way they would like to but it can’t be at the expense of the safety of passengers! 
&nbsp;

(This article was originally published on DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-pilots-must-curb-tendency-to-turn-up-drunk-for-flights-2703194">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) 
&nbsp;

Airlines world over make huge investments to hone the skills of pilots in their quest for the maintenance of high safety standards. It is therefore incomprehensible that an astounding number of pilots of Indian carriers – 181 to be precise, as per statement made in Parliament, failed the mandatory breathalyser test prior to operating flights during the three year period 2015-18.

Airlines world over make huge investments to hone the skills of pilots in their quest for the maintenance of high safety standards. It is therefore incomprehensible that an astounding number of pilots of Indian carriers – 181 to be precise, as per statement made in Parliament, failed the mandatory breathalyser test prior to operating flights during the three year period 2015-18. Pilots, in the course of their exhaustive training, are made to realise the significance of safety; that lives of hundreds of passengers depend on them, etc. Why do some of them then behave so immaturely and irresponsibly so as to fail the mandatory breathalyser test? It’s a question that has defied a satisfactory response because the number of instances of pilots failing the test hasn’t shown any appreciable decline during the recent years and India’s track record continues to be more abysmal than most other countries. Even if it is argued that while instances of pilots reporting in a drunken state year after year in absolute number may not have shown a decline, the reality of it going down as a percentage of flights operated cannot be overlooked. This is because the number of flights operated in these years has gone up significantly, as has the number of pilots in various airlines. What is, however, perplexing is that even the tightening of action by the regulatory agency, the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has apparently failed to make the pilots understand the gravity of their lackadaisical approach. As per new regulations introduced by the DGCA in 2015, more as a consequence of India’s safety rating downgrade by the Federal Aviation Administration of USA in the previous year, to curb the menace, all flights are now mandatorily covered through pre-flight checks whereas earlier checks were conducted only at random. The punishment too has been made more stringent. Suspension of flying licence for the first instance of violation and revocation of licence for three years for a repeat offence. Considering that pilots earn between Rs 3-8 lakh a month depending on their seniority, suspension of flying licence does translate into a huge financial punitive loss for them, but it seemingly is still failing to act as a deterrent. It is imperative to dispel the often-cited, hastily drawn, conclusion that had the pilots not been stopped from operating the flight on failing the breathalyser test it would have resulted in a tragedy. The breathalyser tests are stringent as even negligible traces of alcohol in breath result in pilots being kept away from operating the flight. The pilot unions have always termed these standards as too stringent, but their reservation is only to be expected considering whose interests they seek to represent and protect. Rule 24 of the Aircraft Rules states “No person acting as, or carried in aircraft for the purpose of acting as pilot, commander, navigator, engineer, cabin crew or the other operating member of the crew thereof, shall have taken or used any alcoholic drink, sedative, narcotic, or stimulant drug preparation within 12 hours of the commencement of the flight...” Pilots failing breathalyser test is also not a phenomenon restricted to India alone. Nineteen pilots of Japan Airlines since August 2018 have failed the breathalyser test forcing the airline to ban alcohol consumption 24 hours before a flight, instead of the earlier 12 hours. Likewise, a Singapore Airlines pilot failed a random breathalyser test before captaining a transcontinental flight from Melbourne, Australia, to Wellington, New Zealand, three months ago. The flight had to be cancelled resulting in inconvenience to passengers because at foreign locations substitute pilots are not available. DGCA may perhaps need to emulate the example of Japan Airlines because restrictions need to be guided by ground realities as they exist in India and not global benchmarks. The argument that our current 12-hour ban is already higher than the eight-hour ban that exists for pilots in Europe and the USA can’t be held as merited because the problem needs to be curbed as the safety of passengers is paramount. There are some who argue that the problem of pilots failing the breathalyser test is a consequence of stress caused by increasingly busy schedules as airlines expand operations, but it lacks credibility. A more plausible reason could be our social environment where good-monied life means partying and partying can’t be without the liquor flowing freely. No one would grudge the pilots enjoying the way they would like to but it can’t be at the expense of the safety of passengers! (This article was originally published on DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Pilots must curb tendency to turn up drunk for flights

Tokyo, May 28 (IANS) Japan`s transport ministry on Saturday announced it will recall another seven million vehicles fitted with defective airbags. 
 
 
This brings the total number of vehicles affected by the faulty airbag inflators manufactured by Japanese company Takata, up to 19.6 million, EFE news reported. 
 
In addition to cars affected in Japan and other countries, the global figure of cars being recalled over the Takata-made airbags could top 100 million, according to Japanese news agency Kyodo. 
 
Faulty Takata airbag inflators have been linked to least 10 deaths in the US and one in Malaysia. 
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CBSE?src=hash">#CBSE</a> Class 10 results: Here&rsquo;s how to calculate percentage from CGPA (by <a href="https://twitter.com/nileshmathur1">@nileshmathur1</a>) <a href="https://t.co/NdDSGqUpc2">https://t.co/NdDSGqUpc2</a> <a href="https://t.co/63IAkzEXhH">pic.twitter.com/63IAkzEXhH</a>
&mdash; Hindustan Times (@htTweets) <a href="https://twitter.com/htTweets/status/736460856225988609">May 28, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="~/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script> 
 
The defect in the airbag inflators has caused some bags to rupture during deployment and send metal and plastic flying towards passengers. 
 
The problem is caused by the use of ammonium nitrate as a propellant which degrades over time due to factors including high temperatures and humidity. 
 
The automakers most affected by the defect include Nissan, Toyota, Honda, Ford, Mazda, Honda, BMW, Mitsubishi, Volkswagen and the Chrysler Group.&nbsp; 
 
--IANS

Japan`s transport ministry on Saturday announced it will recall another seven million vehicles fitted with defective airbags. This brings the total number of vehicles affected by the faulty airbag inflators manufactured by Japanese company Takata, up to 19.6 million, EFE news reported.

Tokyo, May 28 (IANS) Japan`s transport ministry on Saturday announced it will recall another seven million vehicles fitted with defective airbags. This brings the total number of vehicles affected by the faulty airbag inflators manufactured by Japanese company Takata, up to 19.6 million, EFE news reported. In addition to cars affected in Japan and other countries, the global figure of cars being recalled over the Takata-made airbags could top 100 million, according to Japanese news agency Kyodo. Faulty Takata airbag inflators have been linked to least 10 deaths in the US and one in Malaysia. #CBSE Class 10 results: Here’s how to calculate percentage from CGPA (by @nileshmathur1) https://t.co/NdDSGqUpc2 pic.twitter.com/63IAkzEXhH — Hindustan Times (@htTweets) May 28, 2016 The defect in the airbag inflators has caused some bags to rupture during deployment and send metal and plastic flying towards passengers. The problem is caused by the use of ammonium nitrate as a propellant which degrades over time due to factors including high temperatures and humidity. The automakers most affected by the defect include Nissan, Toyota, Honda, Ford, Mazda, Honda, BMW, Mitsubishi, Volkswagen and the Chrysler Group. --IANS

Japan to recall another 7 mn vehicles over airbags

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