Title - Railways geared up to meet catastrophe in Uttarakhand - The Times of India

ALLAHABAD: To meet the unprecedented catastrophe in Uttarakhand, and evacuate the passengers stranded there, Indian railways has galvanized into action.

Minister of railways, Mallikarjun Kharge, has given directions to railway board to arrange special trains to evacuate stranded persons from the calamity hit areas.

In this connection, special trains have been arranged, which have started running from Haridwar. On June 20, two specials were run to Lucknow and Delhi respectively. More specials are being planned as per the requirements. Three specials are planned for June 21. One is from Haridwar to Lucknow at 6.30 pm, second is from Haridwar to Mumbai at 8.15 pm and third is from New Delhi to Secundrabad at 9.30 pm.

In coordination with government of Uttarakhand, Indian railways has decided to carry stranded passengers free of cost to their respective destinations. Railway administration is ensuring that sufficient empty coaching rakes are sent to Haridwar/Dehradun. A Task Force has been set up at the level of railway board under chairman, railway board, Vinay Mittal to monitor the situation. Northern railway and its Muradabad division have fully geared up for making appropriate arrangements (Uttarakhand falls mostly under Muradabad Railway Division of Northern Railway).

The following Senior officers have been deputed as Special officers in charge of four most crucial points:

Dehradun- Sanjeev Garg, Chief Commercial Manager/Freight Marketing-Mob.no 09717630953

Rishikesh - DK Singh, Chief Commercial Manager/Project-Mob.no. - 097171630969

Haridwar -Hitendra Malhotra, Additional Divisional Railway Manager Moradabad-Mob.no. 09760534001

New Delhi - Vivek Srivastava, Additional Divisional Railway Manager/Delhi-Mob.no. -09717631001.

These Officers are maintaining liaison and co-ordination with the state civil authorities and ensuring management and dispersal of passengers and also ensuring setting up of passenger help booths at these locations to be manned round the clock.

The following Helpline nos. have been installed:

Haridwar: 09760534054/09760534055 Dehradun: 01352-622131 Rishikesh:01352-434167

RPF officers with adequate contingent of inspectors/constables have been deputed at these locations. Doctors and paramedical staff in sufficient numbers have been deployed at these stations.

Railways have ensured setting up of additional booking and enquiry counters at above locations for handling the additional requirement of booking, enquiries and refund etc. Arrangement of Catering facilities and Drinking water has been ensured at these locations. Frequent announcements through the public address system regarding status of trains and other passenger related services has been ensured.