BULLETIN NO.2 SCR gears itself up to face the situation arising out of the cyclone ‘Hudhud’

In view of the prevailing cyclonic weather conditions and the forecast of heavy rains over the North coastal Districts of Andhra Pradesh, Shri P.K. Srivastava, General Manager/SCR reviewed the situation and directed the officials to be o­n high alert and initiate measures to face any situation arising out of the cyclone ‘Hudhud’.

In this connection, a high level review meeting was conducted by Shri Sunil Kumar Agarwal, Additional General Manager, at Rail Nilayam, SCR HQ, and today i.e. 10^th October, 2014. He reviewed with the Principal Heads of the Departments concerned o­n the preparedness to tackle any emergency situation that may arise.

The following measures have been initiated by SCR in this regard:

1. Emergency control rooms are being opened at Rail Nilayam, Secunderabad and also in the Divisional Head office of Vijayawada Division from 11^th October, 2014. A multi-disciplinary team of officers drawn from various departments will man these emergency control rooms round-the-clock to closely monitor the field conditions and initiate appropriate action as required.

2. The railway track situated in the coastal region that is likely to be affected is being patrolled o­n foot by Engineering staff.

3. Stationary watchmen are put o­n guard at identified vulnerable locations like bridges, cuttings etc., to keep a continuous watch o­n the safety of railway track structure at these locations.

4. Supervisors have been deputed to travel in the locomotives of trains running o­n the identified vulnerable coastal sections so as to closely monitor the water level/safety in the vicinity of railway track.

5.  Engineering material trains loaded with sand, boulders, cement bags and quarry dust etc. are kept ready at various locations o­n Vijayawada and adjoining Divisions for immediate mobilization, in case of need.

6. The Railway officials are in close liaison with the officials of the State Government, especially with Irrigation Officials to assess the situation of tanks nearby Railway track.

7.  Senior Engineering officers from SCR Head quarters have been deputed to camp at Tuni to monitor the situation and oversee relief activities as per need.

8. Power cars, Diesel generators, Tower cars, Accident Relief trains, Diesel locos and also Medical Teams have been kept in readiness, especially o­n Vijayawada Division to immediately undertake relief / restoration activities in case of need.

9.   All the Catering Stall Contractors and authorized vendors at stations o­n Vijayawada-Visakhapatnam Section and Pantry Car Managers of trains scheduled to run o­n this Section have been instructed to keep adequate stocks of food items and water etc., to take care of catering needs of Passengers in case of trains getting regulated/diverted.