Cancellation of the Visakhapatnam-bound trains at Mumbai LTT, a day before cyclone Hudhud crossed Visakhapatnam, had caused a lot of confusion among passengers.
When the passengers, who had confirmed reservation from Mumbai LTT for October 11, wanted to know whether the train would be available the next day, the employees at the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus were clueless about its operation or otherwise.
A counter clerk advised passengers to book their tickets for Sunday as some berths were available as they could cancel them, if the train (Mumbai LTT-Visakhapatnam) was cancelled the next day. The absence of a notice at the station led to chaos as passengers ran from one counter to the other.
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Some passengers felt that the train on October 11 could have been operated up to Rajahmundry or Samarlakota as the line was clear till there. Fortunately, the South Central Railway operated the Mumbai LTT-Kakinada Express on October 12 and the lucky ones managed to get berths on the train.
The AP State Road Transport Corporation (APS RTC) was up on its feet soon after the Hudhud cyclone and operated buses from Rajahmundry and other places to Visakhapatnam to clear the stranded train passengers who came from various destinations. The railway line between Tuni and Visakhapatnam developed breaches at several places due to the cyclone.
The NDRF and other relief teams gave top priority to clearing the National Highway of the fallen trees. The road was cleared for movement of vehicles by around noon of October 13 and the RTC sent its first bus on a trial basis from Rajahmundry to Visakhapatnam around 3 p.m. and slowly increased the number of buses even as passengers were prepared to stand and go as they were unable to communicate with their near and dear ones due snapping of cell towers and telecom lines.
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Despite the pitch darkness all around, due to lack of electricity, the trained RTC drivers managed to bring the passengers safely to Visakhapatnam in less than six hours.
Some of the passengers, who wanted to get down at Anakapalle, Kurmannapalem and other places on the outskirts of the city, had difficulty in locating their respective junctions as fallen trees and broken branches seemed to be the common feature all along the highway and the buildings, a little away from the road, were almost invisible in the darkness.
No wonder, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has appreciated the swift action by the RTC authorities in restoring services.
(Reporting by B. Madhu Gopal)
vizagdesk@thehindu.co.in