Hyderabad: In a first of its kind measure, the South Central Railway has positioned four trains with 55 empty coaches at four major stations to serve as emergency shelters for meeting local requirements as a very severe cyclonic storm 'Hudhud' hit the Andhra coast.
SCR kept empty train rakes at Samalkot (15 coaches), Tuni (16), Kakinada (six) and Rajahmundry (18).
In view of the damage inflicted by Hudhud in north coastal region of Andhra Pradesh, SCR has initiated steps to reach out to the displaced and needy people in the affected areas in its jurisdiction.
As per the directions of General Manager P K Srivsatava, SCR has opened its railway stations and institutes/ community halls to general public, especially between Rajahmundry and Visakhapatnam as a social responsibility measure.
The 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 and Anakapalli to serve as temporary shelter in case of need.
"These special measures are aimed to meet the needs of the passengers and also the locally displaced railway employees and the general public in case of any emergency," the SCR said.
