The Ministry of Railways has announced that it will transport flood relief materials booked by government and private organisations to Chennai free of cost.
The decision came on a day when the Customs Department informed that customs duty on foodstuff, medicines, clothing and blankets imported for free distribution to poor and needy will be exempt from customs duty.
In a circular to all General Managers, the Railway Board said that the decision to allow free transport of relief material to Chennai for distribution to flood-affected people of Tamil Nadu was taken based on a request made by the National Disaster Management Agency. The relief material should be consigned to the District Magistrate of the flood-hit districts. The consignments shall be booked solely at the owner’s risk and no claim for any loss or damage carried under this special arrangement entertained. The Ministry of Railways will reimburse the cost of the free transport from the Government of India, the circular said.
Accident averted
Alertness of a handful of railway personnel averted a major accident between Tambaram and Chengalpet on December 1. The Motorman, Permanent Way Supervisor and Traffic Controller noticed the breach and stopped a suburban train carrying more than 500 passengers just short of the danger thereby averting a major accident.
Railway official said the bridge across the Adyar river between Kodambakkam and St. Thomas Mount railway stations was severely damaged on December 2 due to the violent flow of water in the river at dangerous levels. Four girders weighing 350 tonne were displaced in the impact. An emergency response team comprising divers, accident relief experts and others was moved to the bridge to undertake repair work. The displaced spans were realigned in record time as workers braving heavy rain and wind worked round the clock. Normal traffic was restored on the bridge on December 6. The floods resulted in the closure of Chennai Central and Egmore railway stations for four days. A total of 44,000 stranded passengers were evacuated to their destinations through 70 special trains, sources said.
