Postal Manual Vol. VIII - India Post

under the circumstances, in the absence of definite instructions, for the safe and speedy forwarding
of mails, but also to telegraph full particulars of the occurrence to his supervising officers
mentioning the names of the Postal and R.M.S. officials killed or injured, if any. The,
Superintendent, R.M.S. or other officer deputed for the purpose must exert himself to make such
arrangements for the conveyance of the mails as the circumstances of the case may demand or
admit of. It is possible to lay down any fixed rules for his guidance which would meet every
contingency. He should co-operate with other postal officials, and with the Railway authorities,
and endeavor always to work in harmony with them. The action, to be taken must necessarily
depend on his own energy and intelligence as well as on the special circumstances of each case. He
should employ any mode of conveyance available for the expeditious carriage of the mails; if
trollies can be obtained, he should ask the Railway authorities to supply them, and so on. In some
cases it will be advantageous, or even necessary to open a temporary mail office at the spot. When
this is decided on, the Railway authorities should be requested to locate a mail van at the place for,
this purpose. If the whole of the mails can not be forwarded at one time, the parcel mails should be
detained in preference to the letter mails, arrangements being made for the onward despatch of all
mails by the earliest opportunity and for the safe custody of those detained. In the case of
important mails, e.g. foreign mails, no pains or reasonable expense should be spared in forwarding
them with expedition.
446. Outward foreign mails - (1) If the interruption to the mails service is likely to
cause any detention to the outward foreign, mails, the intimation given to Heads of Circle, etc.
should comprise such particulars as will enable them to warn the public at Stations affected by the
interruption, to post their foreign correspondence, one or more days (as may be necessary) in
advance of the usual mail day. The Railway authorities should likewise be communicated with in
order that every endeavour may be made to reduce the period of detention as much as possible.
(2) The head of the Circle has authority, under special circumstances to arrange for
special; trains or to detain the out P and O Mail steamer at Bombay for a period not exceeding 24
hours. It will be the duty of the officer at the scene of the interruption to telegraph to the Head of
the Circle. If there is any risk whatever of the outward foreign mails not reaching Bombay in time.
Similarly if the train conveying the outward foreign mails misses, or is likely to miss, connection
will be responsible for telegraphing the news without delay to the Head of the Circle. at any
junction the misconnection occurs
447. Temporary sorting lists.- In cases where interruptions occur in the beat of a
section, requiring the format of one or more new temporary sections ,it will be necessary to revise
the sorting lists the original section and to prepare sorting lists for any temporary offices or
sections that may be opened. This duty should be performed at once. So as to prevent
correspondence being delayed or miscarried. The revision or preparation of sorting lists in these
cases should be done in concert with Superintendent of Post offices, if he is present otherwise the
R.M.S officer should inform the post offices concerned of the changes made in the sorting lists.
Such changes sorting lists may be carried out without the pervious sanction of the Head of the
Circ, but the nature of the changes should be intimated to that officer as early as possible.
448. Final report on interruption – When tie interruption to the mail service has ceased,
the Superintendent, R.M.S. should submit a report to the Head of the Circle, describing its cause,
and the measures taken for the carriage of tile mails and the restoration of communication. The
report should be accompanied by a detailed account of expenditure incurred for the conveyance of
the mails; where possible, vouchers should be obtained and attached to the account. This account
will be examined in the office of the Head of the Circle and returned to the Superintendent. The
items passed by the Head of the Circle should be included in the next contingent bill of the
Division.