Bhubaneswar: East Coast Railway (ECoR) has geared up safety precautions for the cyclone Amphan and has opened round-the-clock disaster management cells (DMC) to monitor the developing situatuion.
“The ECoR done the preparations and ground work to meet the challenges posed by Cyclone Amphan,” said an official press release.
“Taking advantage of the meteorological forecasts and also the experiences of devastation to Railway property in cyclone Fani in 2019, Titli in 2018, Hudhud in 2014, Phailin in 2013 & Super Cyclone of 1999, ECoR has planned for early restoration of train traffic and railway track, if affected by Amphan”.
“Round the Clock Disaster Management Cell has been opened at ECoR HQs at Rail Sadan and at Divisional Headquarters at Visakhapatnam, Khurda Road and Sambalpur”, said the release.
General Manager, East Coast Railway, has directed the concerned officials to be on full alert towards any incident like flood situation near railway track and to ensure safety of trains and smooth train operations.
ECoR has also taken steps for NO RISK TO TRAIN TRAFFIC, positioning of Special Teams for early restoration of tracks, signaling system and electrification etc., Safety of Train Operations, to run train, if there will be no electric supply.
Diesel locomotives have been kept in position for utilization during failure of electricity. As Red Alert has been given in coastal areas, ECoR is keeping watchful eye at all the stations between Bhubaneswar and Bhadrak in Bhubaneswar-Kharagpur Railway section.
Close coordination is being maintained with State government officials at different levels. Full Supply Level (FSL) in case of canals & Danger Level (DL) in case of bridges have been painted with bright red band across each pier adjacent to the abutment so as to be clearly visible to the Patrolman, Stationary Watchman and Drivers.
Patrolling of Railway tracks by Patrolmen has also been planned. They observe danger or interruption if any and protect the trains from any unusual occurrence. Stationary Patrolmen and Watchmen along with mobile Patrolmen have been deployed in vulnerable sections.
Arrangements have been made to stock sufficient quantities of track & bridge repair reserve materials, viz., boulders, sand, cinder, quarry dust, ballast at identified locations. The engineering relief vans and their equipments are kept ready. Bridge materials are kept in readiness so that they can be moved as per requirement. ECoR is in constant touch with India Meteorological Department (IMD) and getting weather alerts.
” Running of passenger train in Bhubaneswar- Khadagpur main line has been stopped,” said the press release.
As, all passenger carrying trains have already been suspended till further announcement in view of COVID19, only some Shramik Special Trains, one AC Special Train, freight and Parcel Express were running as per guidelines of Ministry of Home Affairs.
In view of the above Cyclone forecast, ECoR has diverted Bhubaneswar-New Delhi-Bhubaneswar AC Special Train via Angul-Jharsuguda-Rourkela-Tata route bypassing Bhubaneswar-Hijli (Kharagpur) route for four days.
Shramik Special Trains has been suspended and will not be allowed to run in Bhadrak-Kharagpur route. Parcel and freigfht trains may be diverted via Sambalpur-Jharsuguda route.
