SCR comes to the aid of 1,226 passengers stranded at Kazipet

Four long-distance trains were diverted via Kazipet, bypassing their scheduled route through Vijayawada.

The South Central Railway (SCR) arranged a special train for 1,226 passengers stranded at Kazipet with Cyclone Murasu disrupting rail traffic across parts of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

While many train services were cancelled, diverted or rescheduled as a precautionary measure to ensure passenger safety amid adverse weather conditions triggered by the cyclonic storm, four long-distance trains — Jogbani-Erode Amrit Bharat Express, Indore-Kochuveli Ahilya Nagari Express, Hazrat Nizamuddin-MGR Chennai Central Garib Rath Express and Bhagat Ki Kothi-MGR Chennai Central Express — were diverted via Kazipet, bypassing their scheduled route through Vijayawada.

This led to 1,226 passengers disembarking at Kazipet upon which the Secunderabad Division accommodated 278 passengers on the Secunderabad-Guntur Golconda Express and operated a special train from Kazipet to Vijayawada for the remaining 948 passengers. Special catering services were provided at Warangal, Ramagundam and Jammikunta stations for food and refreshments during extended halts.

In another measure, an unscheduled stoppage was provided at Kurnool City station for the diverted Thiruvananthapuram-Hazrat Nizamuddin special train, enabling passengers to avail themselves of catering facilities.

Railway officials said ticket-checking staff were deployed to guide passengers, respond to queries and facilitate onward travel. General Manager Sanjay Kumar Srivastava commended railway personnel for their prompt response and passenger-centric measures. With the cyclone expected to continue impacting the region, night patrolling has been intensified while additional watchmen have been deployed at vulnerable bridges to closely monitor water levels and ensure safety, he said.

SCR organised a mega camp under the nationwide Digital Life Campaign 5.0 at Rail Nilayam, Secunderabad, on Wednesday to promote the welfare of pensioners and family pensioners. The camp aimed to create awareness about the online submission of Digital Life Certificates (DLCs) and address grievances raised by retired railway employees.

The programme was attended by Principal Chief Personnel Officer Siddarth Kati, Chief Personnel Officer (Industrial Relations) S. Ramana Reddy and other senior officials. Similar camps were also organised across the Secunderabad, Hyderabad and Nanded divisions. A large number of retired railway employees participated in the camps and interacted with railway officials on the online submission process, pension-related issues and other queries, according to a press release.