Various Relief Measures by Railways in Kerala Floods

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
One rake containing 2540 tonnes of Rice dispatched from Raipur by the Chhattisgarh Government to support flood victims of Kerala has reached Kazhakuttam and is being unloaded today(23.08.18) at FCI warehouse siding.
Railways didn’t charge any freight for this consignment and operated the rake on high priority to reach its destination, Kazhakuttam. During the recent floods in Kerala, Southern Railway undertook many relief and rescue operations simultaneously working on a quick restoration of rail infrastructure in the Divisions. The works are detailed below;
RELIEF AND RESCUE WORKS
Three Drinking Water Rake Specials to Kerala:
Ø Southern Railway dispatched first water special with 7 BRN wagons carrying 2.8 lakh litres of water from Erode Jn Station to Kayankulam on 18.08.2018.
Ø Second water special from Erode with 10 BRN wagons carrying 3.2 lakh litre of water also reached Thiruvalla on 20.08.2018.
Ø Third water tank special with 29 tank wagons carrying 14.5 lakh litre of water which was dispatched from Pune on 18.8.2018 has reached Ernakulam on 20.08.2018.
Ø Railways are running more water specials to meet the request of State Govt.
Three lakh Rail Neer Bottles from IRCTC Plants in Southern Railway:
Ø Railway arranged 2 lakh numbers of one litre bottle of Rail Neer water to Flood Ravaged Kerala through Thiruvananthapuram Division.
Ø Another one lakh bottles are getting ready to be delivered.
Ø Railway Officials at Headquarters and Divisional Levels are coordinating with state Government officials of Kerala for the movement of the water bottles to required destination.
Deployment of Professional Swimmers:
Ø 9 employees who are Professional Swimmers of Thiruvananthapuram Division of Southern Railway were deputed to help in relief/rescue operations in connection with the flood affected areas in the district of Pattanamthitta for a period of 5 days, which was very much appreciated.
Contributions to Kerala CM’s Relief Fund:
Ø Rs.65 lakh was contributed by the Officers and staff of Thiruvananthapuram Division and Rs 15000 by Southern Railway Women’s Welfare Organisation of Thiruvananthapuram Division to Chief Minister of Kerala Relief Fund to assist flood victims. Divisional Railway Manager Thiruvananthapuram handed over the cheques to Honorable Chief Minister of Kerala on 20.08.2018. Officers and staff of Palakkad Division are also collecting funds for Kerala chief ministers relief fund.
Blankets & Bed sheets being given to needy:
Ø 3000 bed sheets and 300 blankets are already handed over to the relief authorities by Thiruvananthapuram Division.
Ø 4000 bed sheets and 700 blankets are also being arranged from six division’s to Sr DCM Trivandrum to be handed over to Relief Authorities.
Free Transport of Relief Materials to Kerala:
Ø Railway is arranging free transport of flood relief materials till 31st August, 2018 to Stations in Kerala.
Ø Apart from government agencies, reputed organizations approved by DRMs were permitted to load the materials free of cost, to Stations within Kerala..
Ø Help desks have been opened in 11 major Parcel offices across Southern Railway. viz., Chennai Central, Chennai Egmore, Madurai Tiruchchirappalli, Salem Tirunelveli, Villupuram, Karur,Tirupur,Erode and Coimbatore stations.
DESPATCH OF RELIEF MATERIALS BY VARIOUS RAILWAYS TO KERALA
Southern Railway Relief Material Despatches:
Ø Southern Railway despatched 125 Quintals of relief material collected at various Stations till 21.08.2018 .
Ø 38 Quintals from Chennai Division
Ø 44 Quintals from Madurai division
Ø 25 Quintals from Thiruchchirapalli division
Ø 18 Quintals from Salem Division
South Western Railway VPU with Support Materials:
Ø One VPU loaded with flood relief materials containing Rice, Dal, Sooji, Atta, oils, sugar, clothes, medicines, bleaching powder , etc., sent by SWR from Yasvantpur to Palakkad Division by Train No.16515 for distribution in Kerala.
Central Railway Despatches of Support Materials:
Ø 405 packages weighing 56 quintals Relief material collected at Panvel despatched to Alleppey.
Ø 167 packages weighing 25 quintals Relief material collected at Lokamanya Thilak Terminal despatched to Calicut.
Ø 22 packages weighing 7 quintals Relief material collected at Chhathrapathi Shivaji Maharaj Terminus despatched to Ernakulam.
Ø 1166 packages weighing 172 quintals Relief material collected at Lokamanya Tilak Terminus will be despatched on 21.08.2018 to Thriuvanthapuram in a separate VPU.
Ø Despatched 23 tonne relief materials Collected in VPU By 16381 Express on 22.08.2018 from Pune to Chengannur.
Ø Despatched 11 tonne relief materials Collected in VPU By 22150 Express from Pune to Ernakulam.
Relief Materials from South Central Railway:
Ø Despatched 22 tonne relief materials Collected from Secunderabad By 07119 Kochuveli Special to Kottayam.
Ø Loaded 13 tonnes relief materials including 533 milk cartoons from Secunderabad to Kochuveli.
Ø Despatched 300 bags of Rice collected from Guntur by FSLR of 17320 Express to District Collector Kottayam
Water Purifiers, and other materials:
Ø 150 Water purifiers were recieved at Ernakulam by Train No.12626, and delivered to State Government officials.
Ø Food packages, medicines, sanitary napkins, biscuits, soaps, etc., received at Parcel Help Desks are dispatched to Kerala at regular intervals on priority.
Southern Railway Medical Aid through St. John’s Ambulance Brigade Service:
Ø SR Opened First-aid Booths at major railway stations viz., Tiruvalla, Kottayam, Ernakulam and Chengannur.
Ø 8 Lakhs worth medical relief materials mobilized are being taken to Chengannur for distribution.
Medical and Food Special rake offered by SR:
Ø Medical and Food special train was also offered from Trivandrum Central and Ernakulam to the State Govt for moving their relief material. However the State Government officials preferred to take the materials by road directly to remote locations.
Southern Railway’s helping hand in all possible ways:
Ø Special control cells were opened in Thiruvananthapuram and Palakkad control Office coordinated by officers / Commercial inspectors
Ø Help desks, Enquiry Counters, Ticket refund Counters were opened at Trivandrum Central, Ernakulam Jn, Alleppey, Nagercoil, Thrissur, Mangalore Central, Kannur, Kozhikkode, Palakkad, Shoranur stations to help passengers.
Ø Press and media bulletins were released frequently to update public on trains services and relief/restoration works.
Shelter Arrangements free of cost:
Ø Paid AC waiting halls were opened to all passengers free of cost in both the divisions.
Ø Stranded passengers were accommodated in Panchayath community centre, Schools at Shoranur.
Ø At Chengannur, the pilgrimage Centre at the Railway premises has been converted into relief camp. More than 200 people have taken shelter there. Food packets and drinking water is being arranged by State Government officials.
Ø At different stations and locations station staff are actively helping the NDRF officials in rescuing the people who are stranded and taken shelter at Railway Stations Specially in Chalakkudi and Kottayam section of Trivandrum division and Shoranur station of Palakkad division.
Food Arrangements free of cost:
Ø At all major stations, Trivandrum and Palakkad the catering establishments are operated round the clock and food supplied to the needy on payment basis.
Ø Arrangements were made to supply food packets through NGO for stranded passengers in Aluva–Wadakkanchery section of Trivandrum and Shoranur in Palakkad division.
Ø Food packets were distributed to staff working in the section Shoranur – Calicut section.
Ø 12000 Food packets were arranged at Chalakkudi and Aluva during 16th to 18th August 2018.
Ø The staff of divisional office collected relief materials worth Rs 4 lakh which was also handed over to the district administration.
Rescue efforts of SR along with NDRF/State Govt:
Ø At Chalakkudi station which was marooned in floods, many rescue attempts were spearheaded by the Railway staff in coordination with the NDRF authorities and finally all 50 persons including Railway staff were rescued.
Ø Nearly 1000 locals were rescued by tower car operated in the traffic near Ernakulam on 17th and 18th August. A pregnant lady was rescued by boat from Chovvara station and airlifted to Thrissur, which were widely appreciated by public/press/media.
Medical Team from Southern Railway in Action:
Ø Medical Aid Booth on PF1 at Chengannur Railway station.
Ø St John Ambulance Squad Madurai team under Dr.Sam given treatment to 168 people. Flood victims from both the Camp at Railway Station & Municipal office attended.
Ø Flood rescue team from Chennai under the leadership of Mr. Manikandan& Senior Divisional Medical Officer Kottayam attended many camps around Chengannur area & Kuttanadu for giving first Aid and relief materials.
Ø Chief Medical Superintendent Thiruvananthapuram and team cleaned the Reservation Office and other offices attended by staff of Nagercoil and Thiruvananthapuram colony.
Ø Garbage segregation, removal, cleaning of Platforms, Relief Camp area in station, and other areas attended by Labours came from Kollam, as flood affected Contract Labours of CNGR station staying in Relief camps not yet reported for duty.
Ø St John Ambulance Squad personal supplied relief material to Waynad tribal area.
Ø Senior Divisional Medical Officer Thrissur and team visited Chalakudi colony for taking preventive measuresMorning distributed PD water and Biscuits to all occupants of Quarters. Cleaning arranged in Colony with Lime with bleaching power sprinkled in colony. Chlorinated well Medical team distributed Doxycycline as preventive measure
Ø Health education given to occupants of Quarters
RESTORATION WORKS BY RAILWAYS
1.Kerala Floods – Track Damages and Restoration Works
Restoration of Rail Infrastructure:
1. Railway team worked with dedication round the clock to clear the hurdles in the flood hit sections and all sections in the main route of Kerala were opened on 20th August 2018 as below:
Ø Thiruvananthapuram(TVC) to Nagarcoil(NCJ) section was suspended from 07.00 hrs of 15.8.2018 and was given fit from 09.30 hrs of 16.8.2018.
Ø Ernakulam(ERS) – Kottayam(KTYM) suspended from 1600 hrs of 16.8.18, and given fit from 20.00 hrs of 19.08.2018.
Ø Ernakulam(ERS) – Shoranur(SRR) suspended from 12.00 hrs of 16.8.18, and was given fit from 23.15 hrs of 19.08.2018.
Ø Thrissur(TCR)- Gururvayur(GUV) branch lines was given fit on 17:25 hrs on 21.08.2018 and train services resumed on 23.08.2018.
Ø Palakkad(PGT)– Shoranur(SRR) suspended from 1600hrs of 16.8.18 and was given fit at 0815hrs of 18.08.2018.
Ø Shoranur(SRR) – Kozhikkode(CLT) suspended from 1600hrs of 16.8.18 and was given fit at 0845 hrs of 19.8.18.
Ø Kollam(QLN) –Punalur(PUU) section was given fit on 20.08.2018.
Ø Punalur(PUU)-Senkottai(SCT) and with heavy damages and falling of large amounts of boulders are also being attended on war foot basis, likely to be ready within two three days.
Damages:
Due to unprecedented intense rain during south west monsoon during the last one week, and consequent opening of about 36 dams in state of Kerala, 3 Divisions of SR were severely affected with heavy flash floods, land slips, boulder falling on track etc from 16.08.2018 as detailed below:-
2. In Thiruvananthapuram Division, Water level rose above danger level across 11 bridges, track got submerged at 3 locations, embankment washed away at 3 locations, Earth slips occurred at 7 locations over various sections.
3. In Palakkad Division, Water level rose above danger level across 10 bridges and track got submerged at one location.
4. In Madurai Division, earth slip and falling of boulders occurred at 6 locations.
5. A total number of 9 track machines were deployed round the clock to repair the tracks.
6. 7 special trains carrying boulders, sand and ballast were sent for the restoration of affected track and embankment portions.
7. HQ and Divisional team of about 30 Officers, 45 Supervisors and about 450 Railway Staff worked round the clock braving rain and water at adverse conditions with dedication and sincerity to restore the tracks on priority to give connectivity to state of Kerala at this critical time.
8. About All the train services except for few for want of pairing rakes are restored from today.
Specials Trains to help stranded Passengers in Kerala :
Ø 63 Passenger specials were run in Thiruvanathapuram and Palakkad Divisions to connect stranded passengers. In particular, Thiruvananthapuram- Ernakulam section was connected by passenger Special Trains via Alappuzha every 3 hrs, which was not affected during the flood period, helping all for the movement of people, rescue and relief team. This was appreciated by press and media widely.
Ø 16 Express specials were run from Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram, via Madurai from 17.08.2018 to 21.08.2018. Out of the above,
Ø 4 Trains from Ernakulam to Chennai Egmore,
Ø 3 Trains from Ernakulam to Santragachi,
Ø 1 Train between Thiruvananthapuram and Howrah,
Ø 1Train between Thiruvananthapuram and Silchar,
Ø 1 Train from Thiruvananthapuram to Gorakhpur,
Ø 1 Train between Kochuveli and Bhubaneswar,
Ø 2 Trains from Chennai Egmore to Ernakulam
Ø 2 Trains from Kochuveli to Chennai Central
Ø 1 train from Chennai Central to Kochuveli were run
Ø Among these, 3 specials were run from Ernakulam and Thiruvananthpuram to Santragachi based on the request from State Government of West Bengal.
Ø 1 special train from Kochuveli, Thiruvananthapuram to Bhubaneswar was run today on the request of State Government of Odisha.