The South Western Railway (SWR), in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Indian Railways Institute of Disaster Management (IRIDM), organised the Indian Railways National Conclave on Disaster Management at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIM-B) on 10 July 2026.
Conclave Focus Areas
The conclave served as a platform to review and enhance disaster preparedness across the Indian Railways network. A key highlight was the assessment of multi-agency disaster management exercises conducted by SWR, which included simulated scenarios such as derailment rescue operations, anti-hijack drills, water rescue missions, and coach fire response protocols.
According to SWR officials, these exercises are critical for testing the coordination between railway personnel, state disaster response forces, and other emergency services. The conclave brought together experts from NDMA, IRIDM, and various railway zones to share best practices and lessons learned from recent incidents.
Impact and Future Plans
The event underscored the importance of integrating advanced technologies and standard operating procedures to minimise response times during real emergencies. Participants discussed the adoption of real-time communication systems and specialised training modules for railway staff.
“The conclave has provided a roadmap for strengthening our disaster management framework,” said a senior SWR representative. The recommendations from the conclave are expected to be implemented across all railway zones in the coming months, aiming to improve passenger safety and infrastructure resilience.
