Train operations come to a standstill Controller’s death sparks outrage at CR’s Ngp Divn

Staff Reporter

Train movement in heart of the country at Central Railway’s Nagpur Division came to standstill on Friday for nearly three hours after the staff walked out in protest over the death of a colleague due to alleged medical negligence. Sunil Nitnaware, a Controller, was admitted at Divisional Railway Hospital for operation of wrist and he died after the operation, triggering impromptu protest by the railway personnel. Angry employees staged protest at the hospital forcing Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Tushar Kant Pandey to rush out and pacify the situation. All the staff from Operations Control, Traction Distribution Department, Electrical, Signal & Telecommunication and Commercial Control moved out of office and assembled at the DRM office complex, joining their colleagues in protest. The scene at hospital was quite tense as Nitnaware’s untimely death sparked an outrage among the employees whose pent-up feelings came to fore as there had been talk of medical negligence since long.

A jolly and popular fellow, Nitnaware, as per doctor’s claim, suffered cardiac arrest and died in the hospital. Union office bearers however claimed that overdose of anaesthesia caused medical complications that ultimately cut short life of Nitnaware. The staffer was a Guard, currently posted as a Controller at Operations Control and was known for his efficient handling of train operations. Habib Khan, Working President, National Railway Mazdoor Union (NRMU), and Virendra Singh, Divisional President, Central Railway Mazdoor Sangh (CRMS), were at the forefront, leading the agitation. Manoj Choithani, Divisional President, NRMU, and Branch Secretary, Operating Control, NRMU, too joined the agitation as Nitnaware’s death on Friday evening left everyone stunned. The angry employees assembled in large numbers at Divisional Railway Hospital in the evening hours. Nitnaware’s died at 4.30 pm and as word spread, employees gathered and resorted to raising slogans against railway administration. The family members of Nitnaware were shell shocked, especially his wife. The sudden turn of events caused distress and employees claimed the hospital lacked necessary facilities for better patient care. And as to medical staff, the doctors and the employees say ‘The less said, the better’, though they said some among them are quite professional.

DRM, along with his branch officers including Sr Divisional Operations Manager (Sr DoM) Krishnath Patil, visited the hospital where they faced the angry employees who were seeking action against the Orthopaedic Surgeon whom they faulted for the death of Nitnaware. The employees continued with raising slogan even as staff of Railway Protection Force (RPF) rushed to the hospital to tackle the situation. The employees were insisting on suspension of the Surgeon while DRM said unless negligence is proved, no action can be taken. Finally after nearly two hours of imbroglio, the body of Nitnaware was moved out of railway hospital and taken to Mayo Hospital for post mortem. The examination is likely to be conducted on Saturday morning. After hectic negotiations, the Union office bearers relented as DRM promised to look into the issue of medical negligence and other aspects of hospital administration. The work at Operations Control resumed just after 9 pm but till then, long distance passenger trains and goods trains remained detained at various centres. Even exchange of trains with neighbouring divisions, with that of South East Central Railway, West Central Railway, was also affected. Travellers had a difficult time as train remained halted at various position for nearly two hours and there was no communication regarding the reason behind it.

DRM Pandey agrees to NRMU’s demands

Control Operations was resumed after tense negotiations wherein DRM Tushar Kant Pandey agreed to three sets of demands of NRMU leadership, including videography of the post mortem and nomination of independent doctor in the panel of examiners. Manoj Choithani, Divisional President, NRMU, placed three demands, including action against dereliction of duty against the doctors in case they are found guilty of negligence. A panel of doctors will perform the autopsy and during the process, a doctor nominated by Nitnaware family will also be present. And the NRMU leadership also extracted the promise from DRM that no action will be taken against any of the staffer of Operating Control for spontaneous reaction protesting their colleague’s death.

As per information, Sunil Nitnaware was operated for fixing his wrist that was dislocated when his bike slipped on January 1. He was admitted on January 2 and operation took place on Friday. Just after the operation, Nitnaware collapsed and the doctors at the hospital allegedly tried to cover-up. First, they informed Nitnaware’s family that his condition had deteriorated and then after ten minutes, around 3.30 pm, the doctors claimed that he is stable. But within next ten minutes, the family was left stunned as doctors informed that Nitnaware suffered cardiac arrest and he had passed away. The NRMU leadership impressed upon DRM that there is now need to fix responsibility as there is clear cut negligence going by sequence of events.