New Delhi, Oct. 27 -- Railway Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, on Tuesday, assessed the emergency readiness in the vulnerable parts of the railways in the wake of the landfall of Tropical Cyclone Arnab, which is scheduled to hit the coastal regions on October 28, with Railways having placed about 600 km of track under high surveillance.
South Coast Railway (SCoR) and East Coast Railway (ECoR) have initiated round-the-clock monitoring and restoration systems, with War Rooms functioning at zonal, divisional and Railway Board levels. Senior officers of railways have been deployed at various places to assess the situation and initiate steps to restore railway infrastructure in case of damage.
Repair material wagons have been stationed at Krishna Canal, Bitragunta, Mamidipudi, Visakhapatnam, Palasa, and Ponduru to allow for swift repairs to rail tracks and other infrastructure. Diesel locomotives, generators, and ambulances have been kept ready at strategic locations, while earthmovers, chain saws and other restoration equipment have been positioned at fixed intervals to enable swift mobilisation. Wind speeds and water levels are being monitored hourly by the railway authorities to gauge the impact of the cyclone on railway infrastructure, especially in sensitive locations within the Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam divisions.
Coordination efforts have also been initiated with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and other relevant authorities in order to achieve proper coordination during the time of emergencies.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.