SWR goes that extra mile to provide succour to flood-hit people

Hubballi: Usually, railway helps victims of rain or

flood

by providing stoppages for all its trains, while its personnel work 24x7 to bail out people in case of landslide or other emergencies. During natural calamities, railway is also known for diverting and running special trains.

However in this hour of crisis, South Western Railway (SWR) has gone that extra mile to provide succour to the flood-affected. Working like a social organisation,

SWR

is voluntarily running rehabilitation centres at its stations in Hole Alur, Belagavi, Gokak Road, Chikkodi, Rayabag and other places. It is offering blankets, water bottles, meals and biscuits to passengers. Personnel attached to Civil Defence Force, having teamed up with the local administration, are rescuing people in villages like Upparhatti.

Suresh Angadi, minister of state for railways, told TOI that he has seen railway employees “working like a family” during award ceremonies in Ranchi and Ambala. “Seeing the enthusiasm of railway men in assisting people during emergencies there, we had suggested SWR officials to follow the same. So they have helped people when rain and floods hit our region,” he said, adding: “Earlier, they used to ferry calamity-hit people to safer places and run special trains as suggested by the district administrations. But this time, SWR workforce is working like a social organisation by helping people with its fleet. Also, more than 12 stations have turned rehabilitation centres, where railway men are attending to people. It’s a matter of pride to us,” he said.

SWR general manager Ajay Kumar Singh said that railway is a part of society. “No organisation or department can be successful without being part of society. How can we remain indifferent when our patrons are in crisis? Right from group-D employees, all railway men and officials are working for the welfare of flood-affected,” he said.

Singh said that Railway’s Community Hall in Belagavi has been converted into a rehabilitation centre. “Over 300 people are making use of the Belagavi facility daily, while over 200 people taken shelter in Hole Alur. We have instructed all trains to halt at stations in the affected places till normalcy is restored,” he added.

SWR deputy general manager E Vijaya said top officials like the general manager and divisional railway managers are monitoring relief works. “We have placed donation boxes at major stations like Bengaluru, Hubballi and Yeshwantpur, where people are donating necessary materials. We are transporting those materials in trains, and our personnel are delivering them to the needy,” she explained.

The DGM said their personnel are involved in relief works voluntarily, their day-to-day work notwithstanding.