Even as flood-affected neighbourhoods in remote places are reporting shortage of essential items, tonnes of rice, pulses, baby food, water, packed food items, and clothes sent by Good Samaritans are finding few takers at Ernakulam Junction and other prominent railway stations in the region.
The parcel room and a part of the adjacent platform at Ernakulam Junction were filled with food and other relief materials sent from different parts of India, said Railway sources.
“The parcel supervisor took stock of such parcels that arrived at different stations in Thiruvananthapuram Division. The information has been passed on to nodal officers appointed by the State government. They must take a call on where to receive the parcels,” they said.
ADVERTISEMENT
No transit fee
People nominated by the District Collector may also take possession of the parcels any time during the day or night. The Railway will not levy demurrage charges or transit fee to transport the parcels to relief camps. “But, we are encountering shortage of manpower to carry the items in and out of trains,” the sources said.