Delhi, October 27: Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday reviewed preparedness ahead of the expected landfall of Tropical Cyclone TC02B (Arnab) on October 28, with around 600 km of railway track under close watch across South Coast Railway (SCoR) and East Coast Railway (ECoR), and emergency response teams on standby.

War rooms are active at the Zonal, Divisional and Railway Board levels, with round-the-clock monitoring underway. Senior railway officials are stationed at key locations, and emergency resources have been positioned to facilitate a swift response to possible disruptions. 

Taking to 'X', Vaishnaw said, "Preparedness for Tropical Cyclone TC02B (Arnab) Reviewed cyclone Arnab preparedness ahead of expected landfall on 28th October. Safety protocols and rapid restoration measures are in place across Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam divisions. War rooms are active at Zonal, Divisional and Board level. Round-the-clock monitoring is underway. Passenger safety is the top priority. Around 600 km of track is under close watch. Relief wagons with repair material are stationed at Krishna Canal, Bitragunta, Mamidipudi, Visakhapatnam, Palasa and Ponduru. Diesel locos, power units and ambulances are on standby at key junctions. Earthmovers, tree cutters and restoration tools are placed at short intervals. Wind speed and water level are checked every hour. Senior officials are on site. Coordination with NDRF and State Disaster Authorities is active."

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Key Points

Close Monitoring: Approximately 600 km of railway track is under close watch across vulnerable sections, including areas under Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam divisions.

War Rooms Activated: War rooms at Zonal, Divisional and Railway Board levels are operational, with round-the-clock monitoring of the evolving situation.

Relief Wagons Positioned: Wagons carrying repair materials have been stationed at Krishna Canal, Bitragunta, Mamidipudi, Visakhapatnam, Palasa and Ponduru to support emergency restoration.

Emergency Equipment on Standby: Diesel locomotives, power units and ambulances are on standby at key junctions. Earthmovers, tree-cutting machines and restoration tools have been positioned at short intervals for quick deployment.

Hourly Weather Monitoring: Wind speeds and water levels are being checked every hour to track changing conditions and identify potential risks to railway infrastructure.

Senior Officials on the Ground: Railway officials are stationed at strategic locations to oversee preparedness and coordinate field-level response measures.

Coordination with Disaster Management Authorities: Coordination with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Authorities is ongoing to ensure a coordinated response during emergencies.

Safety arrangements and restoration resources remain in place across SCoR and ECoR to address possible disruptions, protect railway infrastructure and facilitate the safe restoration of services as conditions permit.