Railways keep emergency units on alert with Fani hours away from hitting state

Kolkata: P S Mishra, general manager, Eastern & South Eastern Railway, held a high level meeting with the principal heads of departments of Eastern Railway at ER Headquarters in Fairlie Place on Thursday, to prepare a plan that will be followed as a precautionary measure under ER jurisdiction, to tackle the impact of incoming cyclone Fani.

Special patrolling will be done in all the divisions from May 3. Till May 5, patrolmen will be deputed at vulnerable locations while permanent way staff will be deployed to accompany tower vans stationed at nominated locations.

Wagons containing stone dust are also being kept ready at different stations to be made available to meet any emergency situation. Tower vans along with trackmen, traction department staff and staff of engineering department with tree-cutting machines, were directed to be prepared round-the-clock from May 3-5.

The divisional controls at Howrah, Sealdah, Asansol and Malda will be monitored by the officers round-the-clock. Close coordination is being maintained with the local authorities as well as

with the Disaster Management & NDRF team.

Frequent announcement at stations will be made regarding cancellation (if any), short-termination and diversion of trains for the benefit of passengers.

Accident Relief Trains, Accident Relief Medical Vans and Cranes are being kept ready at depots to meet any emergency situation, while Railway medical teams will be on alert as well.