A zone‑level monsoon preparedness review at South Central Railway has directed intensified patrolling, drain cleaning, signalling checks and 24/7 control‑room monitoring across six divisions to protect services during heavy rains — although accounts differ over which officer chaired the meeting.
South Central Railway held a high‑level review as the monsoon approached, directing a stepped‑up programme of surveillance and maintenance across the zone to safeguard train operations during heavy rains.
According to a regional report in the Deccan Chronicle, the meeting — described as a zone‑level monsoon preparedness review — was presided over by the South Central Railway general manager, who inspected a disaster management room and emphasised round‑the‑clock operational readiness. The report says the GM monitored live video feeds from locations deemed vulnerable and instructed officers to keep close coordination with local and state authorities to secure real‑time, on‑the‑ground updates.
An official South Central Railway press release and several other local outlets set out similar operational priorities but identify a different senior officer as chairing the review. The railway’s statement, issued from Rail Nilayam, lists Arun Kumar Jain as general manager and records detailed directives to intensify patrolling of identified vulnerable track sections, bridges and other locations prone to heavy rainfall. The release emphasised cleaning of side and catch drains, verification of signalling equipment and emergency materials, and prompt rectification of any discrepancies. It also noted that principal heads of departments attended in person while Divisional Railway Managers joined by video conference — reinforcing a multi‑level monitoring posture across the six divisions.
Regional coverage added further practical measures that officials are focusing on. Telangana Today and Siasat reported instructions to strengthen night‑time vigilance, send condition reports from vulnerable spots, verify the functioning of anemometers at critical locations and liaise with state irrigation authorities to anticipate water‑level risks. All accounts converge on the same operational goal: to keep watch over bridges, tunnels, road‑under‑bridges and low‑lying sections liable to waterlogging, and to ensure uninterrupted and safe train services during intense rainfall.
The emphasis on a staffed, continuously operating control room echoes broader Indian Railways practice for major events and weather‑related contingencies. Coverage of the Ministry’s arrangements during last year’s Maha Kumbh described a 24×7 war‑room at Rail Bhavan that pooled technical, commercial and safety specialists to watch live camera feeds and co‑ordinate rapid on‑ground decisions. Reporting on centralised disaster rooms in other zones has highlighted practical features that make them effective — dedicated seating for multi‑department teams, satellite‑linked displays, resilient communications and power backup — allowing rapid information exchange and collective decision‑making when incidents occur.
The railway’s stated measures range from preventive maintenance (drain clearing, signalling checks and emergency stores verification) to active surveillance (patrolling, live feeds and condition reporting) and inter‑agency liaison. The combination is designed to reduce the risk of track submersion, signalling failures and infrastructure stress that can lead to delays, cancellations or accidents during extreme weather.
There is a notable discrepancy in published accounts over which official chaired the meeting. Deccan Chronicle’s item names Sanjay Kumar Srivastava as the GM who led the review in Hyderabad, while the formal SCR release and other local reports identify Arun Kumar Jain at Rail Nilayam. Both versions describe the same suite of preparedness actions; the differing attributions may reflect separate briefings, timing differences or reporting inconsistencies. The railway’s official statement remains the primary source for the detailed operational directions issued.
South Central Railway said in its release that strict adherence to safety procedures, continuous monitoring and inter‑departmental coordination would be maintained through the monsoon, and that supervisors and division heads had been tasked to promptly rectify defects and keep train services safe and as punctual as possible during periods of heavy rain.
Source: Noah Wire Services
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