NEW DELHI: Railways Minister D V Sadananda Gowda has given directions to extend all possible assistance to stranded passengers in the wake of devastating floods in Jammu and Kashmir and arranging transportation of relief material through rail.
A spokesperson said today that Indian Railways has geared up his machinery to provide all possible help to the travelling public in the wake of unprecedented flood in J&K.
The Ministry has decided to transport relief material free of charge by coaching trains to Jammu Tawi and Udhampur from any station of India.
The relief material may include items like food, medicines, clothes, building materials and untensils meant for free distribution among the flood-affected population of Jammu and Kashmir.
This arrangement will be available for 15 days — from September 8 to September 22, 2014. The relief material has to be consigned to the District Magistrate of the district concerned on production of a certificate from the consignor that the consignment is a gift in kind or has been purchased with the funds donated by public for flood victims and has not been paid for by the Government or any of its agencies.
No claim for any loss or damage to consignment carried under this arrangement will be entertained unless it is clearly proved that the loss or damage took place due to willful negligence on the part of the Railways.
The spokesperson said the officers of Firozpur division of Northern Railway, under which the Railway system of J&K State falls, worked day and night to repair badly damaged track between Jammu-Udhampur-Katra section and ensured restoration of normal railway traffic on this section from September 9, 2014.
A four-member team of senior officers of Firozpur division has also left for Kashmir valley to take stock of the railway track there.
Special trains are also being run from Jammu Tawi to Indore via New Delhi to clear stranded passengers and extra coaches being kept as a standby for clearing passengers at Jammu Tawi and New Delhi stations as per the requirement.
Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), a PSU of the Ministry, has so far made three lakh Rail Neer drinking water bottles available for flood affected people of the state.
In addition 50,000 Rail Neer bottles will be sent every day to the flood-affected areas till it is needed. The supplies are being sent mostly through air force and some through trains.
Delhi division of the Northern Railway has made special arrangements for evacuees from J&K. Under it, exclusive waiting rooms have been earmarked for their use at New Delhi station.
In case of onward journey requirement from New Delhi and any other assistance, passenger can contact station manager or deputy station manager. Help desks have also been set up at Jammu, Udhampur and Katra railway stations for the convenience of the passengers.
A special help desk of Railways has also been set up at T-3 Terminal Indira Gandhi International airport New Delhi to guide and facilitate passengers about rail journey.
The situation is being monitored regularly at Railway Board level, Northern Railway Headquarter level and Firozpur Division level. (AGENCIES)
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