HYDERABAD : Joining the agencies involved in cyclone relief operations, the South Central Railway (SCR) on Sunday threw open its facilities and even railway coaches to cater as shelters for the Hudhud cyclone affected people in north coastal region of AP state.
“The railway coaches, railway community halls and station buildings are opened to public to serve as shelters for the cyclone-affected people,” the SCR said adding that it took the step to reach out to the displaced and needy people in the affected areas in its jurisdiction. SCR general manager PK Srivsatava directed the officials to throw open railway stations and institutes/community halls to general public especially between Rajahmundry and Visakhapatnam as a social responsibility measure. Affected local people have been allowed access to railway institutes/community halls at Rajahmundry and Samalkot and also the railway station buildings at major stations like Rajahmundry, Samalkot, Kakinada, Annavaram, Tuni, Anakapalli and others will serve as temporary shelter in case of need.
Apart from this, as a first-of-its-kind gesture, four trains with 55 empty coaches have been positioned at four major stations to serve as emergency shelters as per local requirements. They include one empty train rake with 15 coaches at Samalkot, another empty train rake with 16 coaches at Tuni, empty train rake with six coaches at Kakinada and an empty train rake with 18 coaches at Rajahmundry.