PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, Oct 23: In anticipation of cyclonic storm ‘Dana,’ South Eastern Railway has adopted a series of preventative measures to lessen the possible effects of the storm and heavy rain.
In this regard, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Railway Minister held a review meeting today with the general manager of South Eastern Railway and gave necessary instructions and suggestions.
Also Read- Jharkhand Weather: Heavy rain alert for three days from tomorrow
Actions taken by SER to ensure safety of passengers as well as railway operations
- As of now 172 trains have been cancelled as a precautionary measures. In all 22 trains have been cancelled on October 23, 99 trains on October 24, 46 trains on October 25, 3 trains on October 26 and 1 train each on October 27 and October 29 have been cancelled till now.
- 120 Mail/Express and 52 EMU/MEMU have been cancelled
- There will be cancellation, diversion short termination, short origination of trains. A separate list will be published time to time as per the situation.
- Help Desk will be set up at all important stations.
- Frequent announcements will be done amongst passengers.
- Kharagpur Control and Central Control, Garden Reach will be manned by officers of Engineering, S&T, Operating, Commercial & RPF so as to take any decision on account if cyclone occurs. Also mini-control is planned and is to be operational at Baleshwar.
- Supervisory level Quick Response Team will be made available at Soro, Jaleswar and other important stations as and when necessary.
- The control room will be equipped with satellite phones and mobile phones with BSNL numbers with power backup.
- Standby vehicles with drivers are planned at Soro, Baleshwar, Jaleswar, Kharagpur and Digha in order to tackle passenger evacuation and other contingencies.
- Tower wagons are arranged and placed at Baleshwar, Datan, Kharagpur, Rupsa and Haldia.
- Diesel power is planned as an alternative mode of power in Kharagpur-Panskura Section, Kharagpur-Bhadrak Section, Tamluk-Haldia Section and Tamluk-Digha Section respectively.
- Scratch rake is planned and assembled for carrying relief material or any other requirement with 6-7 coaches placed at Kharagpur.
- Water tank of adequate capacity are planned and placed at all important stations and at places where railway colonies are located.
- Adequate food arrangements with baby food are made at all important stations in order to cater the trains which might be controlled due to cyclone.
- Big hoardings and bill-boards are planned to be removed from the circulating area of the major stations.
- De-watering pump will be placed at Tamluk, Panskura and Baleshwar stations.
- Continuous track-patrolling began yesterday and will continue till 6 pm of October 25. Track patrolling will be extended if required.
- Trains are to be controlled/stopped at stations depending upon the wind and are planned to be regulated with all safety measures.
- Medical team with adequate chlorine tablet, bleaching and other medicines are placed at Mecheda, Tamluk, Kharagpur and Baleshwar to tackle any need/ emergency.
- Adjoining divisions viz. Chakradharpur and Adra are kept on high alert along with Kharagpur Division.
Railway officials said adequate labour arrangements have been made to tackle any emergency situation.