Cyclone Biparjoy: 20 services cancelled from Mumbai to Gujarat between June 14 and 16

The Western Railway on Monday said that five trains from Mumbai to Gujarat have been cancelled as a precautionary measure Train operations will remain suspended for the next 23 days at Veraval Porbandar Okha Dwarka Gandhidham and Bhuj Ashok Kumar Mishra General Manager Western Railway saidThe railway earlier said that considering the latest Weather forecast that the coastal areas of Saurashtra and Kutch region in the state of Gujarat will be affected by Cyclone Biparjoy various safety and security precautions are being taken by Western Railway for the prone areas under the jurisdiction of WRGeneral Manager of Western Railway ndash Ashok Kumar Misra convened a meeting with the Principal Head of Departments amp concerned Divisional Railway Managers were connected through video conferencing to review the preparations inorder to face this force of nature GM gave detailed instructions with regards to arrangements of various logistics train movement including speed restrictions amp cancellation of trains as a safety amp precautionary measureAnil Kumar Lahoti Chairman and CEO Railway Board along with the other Board Members also reviewed the preparedness of the situation A war room has been established at Railway Board level to continuously monitor the situationAccording to Sumit Thakur ndash Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway Cyclone Biparjoy is likely to hit Saurashtra and Kutch region of Gujarat covering Bhavnagar Rajkot amp Ahmedabad Divisions of WR Veraval Junagad Porbandar Kanalus Rajkot Okha and Viramgam ndash Gandhidham Bhuj sections are most vulnerable to this cyclone Various precautionary measures have been set in motion by Western Railway as part of its preparedness for facing this cyclone Disaster Management Room has been made operational at WR Headquarters and at Divisional Headquarters at Bhavnagar Rajkot amp Ahmedabad with round the clock manning by officials of Operating Engineering Mechanical Electrical Commercial SampT and RPF Department Additionally a control office has also been made operational at Gandhidham Hotlines between HQ Disaster Control and Divisional Disaster Control have been ensured for smooth functioning A close liaison is being maintained by Divisional officers for regular updates with IMD and State Government Detailed instructions have been issued to all the departments to start rescue operations immediately if needed The concerned Divisions have been put on alert to tackle the situation with arrangements for tree cutting equipment DG sets diesel driven pumps earth moving equipmentrsquos Poclain JCBs utility vehicles adequate fuel resources etc have been kept in readiness for any assistance as and when needed These authorities have also been instructed to maintain constant communication with respective field officials to ensure necessary immediate action Protection sheets covering platforms amp FOBs has been done The relief trains such as ART ARMESPARTsSPARMEs have been equipped with adequate medicines amp are kept on alertAlso readMumbai AC local trains Rs 3675 crore collected as fines in ticket checking drives by Western Railway between April to MayThakur further informed that the wind speed is being monitored at 5 locations in Bhavnagar Division at 8 locations in Rajkot amp at 3 locations in Ahmedabad Division on hourly basis and Station Masters have been instructed to regulatestop trains when the wind velocity exceeds 50 kmph The patrolling of track and bridges has been ensured In case of any infringement to train operations ie treeOHE mast leaningfalling immediate action is to be taken for stopping the train switching off the traction power and informing the control The communication system is also being strengthened with adequate facilities like wireless communication 15 VHF sets satellite phones etcTower wagon Drivers and TRD staff of all Depot has been instructed to be vigilant amp remain on alert Tower wagons are provided and stationed at Ahmedabad 9 nos Rajkot ndash 7 nos amp Bhavnagar 5 nos Necessary arrangements are also being made to ensure availability of rolling stock locomotives manpower for the rescue amp relief operations The RPF has also been instructed to keep the disaster management team of RPF ready with essential equipment to reach the spot amp start performing relief work with other departments in case of emergencySpeaking about train movement Thakur stated that passenger trains scheduled from 1262023 onwards in the vulnerable sections are being reviewed and necessary decisions shall be taken Several trains have been cancelled amp shortterminated as a precautionary measure in view of safety of passengers amp train operations On 12062023 approx 56 trains towards Gandhidham Veraval Okha Porbandar have been shortterminated at Ahmedabad Rajkot Surendranagar Further approx 95 trains are being proposed for cancellation between 13062023 to 15062023 Frequent announcements about the train updates will be made at stations for the information of the public Also detailed instructions regarding regulation cancellation shorttermination diversion of trains etc will be issued from time to time through social media platforms amp media updates Catering Stalls will remain open during cyclone affecting period with sufficient stock of water amp food materials and preparedness for food arrangements for stranded passengers Also tie up with the state transport services for shifting of passengers to their destination in case of need has also been done The provision for refund has also been facilitated in case of any need to the passengers Ambulances have been kept ready for any emergenciesRestriction has been imposed on inward and outward traffic of Double Stack Container DSC movement as well as on inward traffic for all terminals of Ahmedabad Rajkot and Bhavnagar divisions till 15062023 with immediate effect All loadingunloading activities have been suspended at Kandla Port Navlakhi Port Rajkot Division Pipavav Port Bhavnagar Division amp Bedi Port Rajkot DivisionHelp Desks have been opened at Bhavnagar Porbander Veraval amp Junagadh in Bhavnagar Division Okha Dwarka Khambhaliya Jamnagar Hapa Surendranagar amp Morbi in Rajkot Division Gandhidham and Bhuj in Ahmedabad Division