Safety measures during monsoon: 673 personnel to patrol KR route

MARGAO
The Monsoon Time Table of Konkan Railway trains will come into effect from June 10 and will remain in force up to October 31, even as the Konkan Railway Corporation has said the Corporation aims to ensure safe travel for its passengers in the coming monsoon with a host of measures.

Passengers have been advised to check train status online during monsoon by visiting www.konkanrailway.com or by dialing 139. Control rooms at Belapur, Ratnagiri and Madgaon, will work 24x7 during monsoon period for ensuring safe running of trains.

Pointing out that the Konkan region is known to receive heavy rainfall during the monsoon season, KRC Deputy General Manager, PR Girish R Karandikar has informed that instructions have been issued to loco pilots to run the trains at a reduced speed of 40 kmph in case of heavy rainfall when visibility is limited.

Saying that the Konkan Railway has geared up for the onset of Monsoon season, he said special attention has been given to water drain cleaning and inspection of cuttings. “The large-scale geo-safety works executed along the railway line in the last few years have significantly reduced the incidences of boulder fall and soil slip, thus ensuring safe running of trains. No major disruption to train services has occurred on account of boulder fall during monsoon in the last 10 years,” he said.

Karandikar said Konkan Railway will conduct Monsoon Patrolling as per the prescribed guidelines to ensure safe running of trains. “About 673 personnel will patrol the Konkan Railway route during the monsoon. Identified vulnerable locations will be patrolled round the clock, stationary watchmen will be deployed for 24 hours & Speed restrictions will be imposed at these locations. BRN mounted excavators have been kept ready at nominated points for quick movement in case of any emergency”, he added.

Outlining the precautionary measures adopted by the KR, he said self-propelled ARMVs (Accident Relief Medical Van), with provision of Operation Theater and emergency medical aid are kept ready at Ratnagiri and Verna.  The ART (Accident Relief Train) is also kept ready at Verna.

“Mobile phones have been provided to all safety category staff to contact the control office / station in an emergency. Both Loco Pilots and Guards of trains have been provided with Walkie-talkie sets as well as every station on Konkan Railway is equipped with a 25 Watt VHF base station. This enables wireless communication between the train crew as well as train crew and Station Master”, he added.