Hon’ble Railway Minister Reviews Cyclone “Montha” Preparedness with ECoR and SCR Officials
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reviews preparedness measures with East Coast and South Central Railway officials to ensure passenger safety and operational continuity ahead of Cyclone Montha’s landfall.
As severe cyclonic storm ‘Montha’ approaches the east coast, Union Minister for Railways, Communications, and Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, held a comprehensive review meeting on preparedness with officials of the East Coast Railway (ECoR) and South Central Railway (SCR).
The virtual meeting, conducted on Tuesday, aimed to assess the operational readiness and safety measures being implemented by both railway zones to mitigate any potential disruptions caused by the approaching cyclone.
Focus on Passenger Safety and Operational Continuity
During the review, the Hon’ble Minister was briefed on precautionary actions already undertaken in vulnerable areas, particularly across the Waltair and Khurda Road divisions. Officials highlighted steps such as pre-positioning of engineering and electrical teams, monitoring of overhead equipment, and identification of low-lying track sections prone to flooding.
The Minister stressed that passenger safety remains the top priority, directing all zones to ensure strict adherence to safety protocols and timely communication with passengers regarding cancellations, diversions, or rescheduling of trains.
High Alert Across Railway Zones
General Manager of East Coast Railway, Shri Parmeshwar Funkwal, along with Principal Heads of Departments and Divisional Railway Managers, presented a detailed status report on field preparedness. Disaster response teams have been deployed in strategic locations to tackle any emergency situations.
Shri Vaishnaw emphasized the need for constant coordination with state administrations and disaster management agencies, and instructed both ECoR and SCR to maintain 24×7 control rooms for real-time monitoring of the cyclone’s impact.
Preparedness for Quick Restoration Post-Cyclone
Looking ahead, the Minister directed all railway zones to stay on high alert and to plan for swift restoration of train services once weather conditions improve. He underlined the importance of ensuring that communication channels between railway divisions, control offices, and disaster management cells remain seamless throughout the cyclone period.
The meeting reaffirmed the commitment of the Ministry of Railways to prioritize passenger safety, minimize service disruption, and ensure rapid recovery of railway operations once Cyclone Montha passes.
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