Cyclone Vayu: Western Railway takes several precautionary measures, cancels 70 trains to coastal Gujarat

As Gujarat braces for very severe cyclonic storm ‘Vayu’, which is expected to make landfall on Thursday, Western Railway has taken various safety and security precautions for train passengers of the areas under its jurisdiction i.e. Veraval, Okha, Porbandar, Bhavnagar, Bhuj and Gandhidham.

The Western Railway has decided to short-terminate or cancel some of its trains passing through these areas.

All WR passenger and mail trains to Veraval, Okha, Porbandar, Bhavnagar, Bhuj and Gandhidham stations will be short-terminated or cancelled from 6 pm on Wednesday till Friday morning, said WR chief spokesperson Ravinder Bhakar.

1-70 TRAINS FULLY CANCELLED & 28 TRAINS WILL BE SHORT –TERMINATED WITH PARTIAL CANCELLATION ON MAINLINE
BY W.RLY IN VIEW OF CYCLONE 'VAYU @WesternRly pic.twitter.com/06Y5XmCx66

— DRM Ahmedabad (@drmadiwr) June 12, 2019

The WR has decided to cancel operation of 70 mainline trains while 28 similar trains will be short-terminated with partial cancellation as a precautionary measure.

The WR has also planned to run a special train each from Gandhidham, Bhavnagar Para, Porbandar, Veraval and Okha to evacuate people from those areas.

Special trains with six to 10 coaches each will also be kept ready at the nearest safe location to be moved in emergency conditions, the WR said.

The coaches currently available at depots and station yards located in coastal areas were being shifted to safer places, it said.

"Arrangements have been made for round-the-clock manning of the railway emergency control offices," it said.

All rail authorities concerned have been instructed to keep adequate manpower, and machinery like JCBs, tree-cutters, water tanks, tractors and generators on standby for any assistance required, the WR said.

With PTI Inputs