Representatives of the trade unions of railway employees in the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) will soon approach senior officials of the railway zone to seek recruitment to critical posts in the wake of the June 17 Kanchenjunga Express tragedy near Siliguri.

The divisional railway managers (DRMs) of different divisions of NFR — there are five divisions in the zone — have also sent letters to the higher authorities in the ministry, requesting more running staff in their divisions.

Running staff refers to those railway employees who perform “running duties”, including loco pilots.

Ashish Biswas, the general secretary of the NFR Mazdoor Union, said over 1.5 lakh posts were vacant in the railways across the country.

Among these include posts like station managers, running staff, track maintainers and persons associated with signaling.

“The recent train accident has proved that it is essential to fill up these posts. That is why, we have decided to approach the higher authorities immediately and urge them to take initiatives for recruiting people in these posts,” said Biswas.

On June 17, the Sealdah-bound Kanchenjunga Express was rammed by a goods train from the rear near Rangapani station of Darjeeling district, close to Siliguri. Ten persons, including three railway employees and a child, died in the incident, which occurred at a stretch where the automated signalling system was not working. Many more suffered multiple fractures, as well as head and chest injuries because of the impact of the crash.

The accident has raised questions about whether the running staff and others associated with operations had been provided with proper training.

A section of loco pilots also pointed out that amid this severe paucity of manpower, many of them have had to work continuously without adequate breaks and rest.

“We will also request the authorities to ensure that appropriate training is provided to the employees. The railways should also review the safety system across the zone, especially in the stretch where the accident has occurred,” Biswas added.

The delegation of the workers’ union, he said, will visit Maligaon, the NFR headquarters in Assam, by next week.

The demand to fill up the vacant posts for smoother railway operations has been validated by senior officials.

Amarjit Gautam, the DRM of Alipurduar division of the NFR, sent a letter to his senior officials a few days back, seeking an increase of around 40 per cent over the existing manpower of loco pilots (LPs), assistant loco pilots (ALPs) and train managers (TMs or guards) in his division.

A fortnight ago, Gautam had interacted with family members of the running staff in New Cooch Behar station.

“In the course of the interaction, the families told me that the running staff couldn’t meet their families frequently due to the hectic nature of their duties.I have written to the zonal headquarters, mentioning that at least 40 per cent more LPs, ALPs and TMs should be posted in my division. Similar requisitions have been sent from other divisions,” said the DRM.

As of now, there are around 300 LPs, ALPs and TMs in Alipurduar division.

On Friday, Gautam also conducted a counseling session of the CLIs (chief loco inspectors) in the conference room of his office.

Around 25 LPs, ALPs and TMs work under a CLI.

“The CLIs counsel them on a regular basis. Yesterday, I counselled the counsellors on safety issues. The CLIs have been asked to continue their counseling and ensure that all doubts of the LPs, ALPs and TMs are cleared during such sessions,” he added.

In New Jalpaiguri, Janak Kumar Garg, the chief commissioner of railway safety (CCRS) of NF Circle, who is conducting the inquiry into the accident, recorded statements of around 60 persons, all of whom are railway employees, till Saturday.

“Today (Saturday), the CCRS left for zonal headquarters. He will continue with his inquiry and submit his report in due course,” said a source.