SCR On Damage Control Due To Cyclone Nilam

The South Central Railway on Sunday informed that several steps have been taken to minimise inconvenience to passengers in the view of disruption to train services between Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam due to heavy floods.

According to the SCR, due to heavy rains and discharge of flood water from upstream, water level has risen above the danger mark at the Railway Bridge on River Tandava between Tuni-Gullipadu Stations in the wee hours of Sunday. It necessitated temporary suspension of train services on this stretch from around 02.30 AM keeping in view safety considerations. It resulted in the disruption of rail traffic between Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam.

Several Express trains have suitably been regulated at various stations on Vijayawada-Visakhapatnam section. As the water level receded in the evening, the track on the Up-line was cleared fit at 5.55 PM after running a light engine across the railway bridge, resulting in the restoration of train services.

Meanwhile, emergency control rooms have been opened at SCR HQ-Rail Nilayam at Secunderabad and also at the Divisional Office at Vijayawada, manned round the clock by multi-disciplinary team of senior officials.

Senior Officers from Vijayawada Division are camping at the Tandava River Bridge to constantly monitor the situation. Chief Engineers from SCR/HQ have been rushed to Vijayawada Division to assess the field condition and to assist for early restoration of services. Liaison is being maintained with the State Government officials, especially the Irrigation Engineers to monitor the discharge of flood water, the SCR said.

Further, the Managers of the Pantry Cars on the Trains have been regularly contacted and ensured adequate supply of food materials to the passengers on board. For the passengers of the trains without Pantry Car facility, Snacks / Food packets have been made available from the Platform Catering Stalls and also involving assistance from local Voluntary Organisations at Tuni and Rajahmundry. Food packets were also arranged through nearby Temple authorities at Annavaram and Samarlakota and local trade and merchant associations at Rajahmundry.

Wide dissemination of information on the train services has been taken up through Help Lines, set up at major stations such as Vijayawada, Rajahmundry, Samalkot and Tuni in the affected section and also at Secunderabad, Hyderabad, Kazipet and Khammam Stations to convey information on the current status of train services to the public.

As the trains got regulated at various stations, special care has been taken to minimise inconvenience to the passengers. Frequent announcements have been made through public announcement systems at stations about the current position. Additional Enquiry Counters have been opened. Officers / Senior Supervisors are deployed at major Stations to monitor the situation and to assist the stranded passengers. Watering of Coaches has been done at Vijayawada / Rajahmundry as per need.

The SCR said that full refund of fare has been granted to the passengers of cancelled / partially cancelled trains and also for the trains which are long delayed / rescheduled, upon cancellation of their tickets. Additional refund counters have been operated at major stations to handle the rush.

Keeping in view the Rail traffic disruption, 14 trains have been fully cancelled, 11 partially cancelled to avoid any further congestion on the Section. As many as 12 Long distance trains destined to Bhubaneswar/Howrah and beyond have been diverted via Kazipet, Balharshah and Nagpur to avoid waiting in the affected Section. Four trains have been rescheduled, according to a press release. (INN)