BELAGAVI
The South Western Railways has used a drone camera to undertake an aerial survey of the Castle Rock–Kulem Ghat Section of 27 kms (Braganza Ghat), which is part of the Western Ghats and receives very heavy rainfall in monsoon. It is single line railway section with no road connectivity.
In a press note, the SWR (Hubballi) chief public relations officer stated that since May, inspections by foot, identification of vulnerable locations (prone to land slips, water logging etc) are done and preventive measures are in place (such as embankment walls, sandbags, shoring up of side walls with sleepers etc).
“As additional safety measure, the drone camera will record video of spots of water logging on hill–top, weak spots, loose boulders etc.”
“If any vulnerable/weak spot is noticed, the dedicated team of engineers, technicians and trackmen will take immediate remedial action to prevent damage/obstruction of railway track,” the SWR stated.
The SWR added that in order to attend to any emergencies in the Ghat section, sandbags, ballast, boulders, tools and equipment are ready in dedicated monsoon wagons at Castle Rock, Kulem, Tinaighat.
