SCR Runs Special Train for 1,226 Stranded at Kazipet as Cyclone Murasu Disrupts Rail Traffic

The South Central Railway (SCR) operated a special train for 1,226 passengers stranded at Kazipet after Cyclone Murasu disrupted rail traffic across parts of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, the zone said.

Kazipet is a railway junction in Telangana. The diversions brought four long-distance trains through the station instead of their usual route via Vijayawada.

The SCR said several train services were cancelled, diverted or rescheduled as a precautionary measure to ensure passenger safety amid adverse weather triggered by the cyclonic storm. The four diverted trains were the 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.

As a result, 1,226 passengers disembarked at Kazipet. The Secunderabad Division accommodated 278 of them on the Secunderabad-Guntur Golconda Express and ran a special train from Kazipet to Vijayawada for the remaining 948 passengers. Special catering services were arranged at Warangal, Ramagundam and Jammikunta stations during extended halts, the SCR said.

In another measure, an unscheduled stoppage was provided at Kurnool City station for the diverted Thiruvananthapuram-Hazrat Nizamuddin special train so that passengers could use catering facilities. The SCR said the special train and catering arrangements were part of efforts to reduce hardship for passengers affected by the cyclonic weather.

Railway officials said ticket-checking staff were deployed to guide passengers, answer queries and help with onward travel. General Manager Sanjay Kumar Srivastava commended railway personnel for their prompt response and passenger-centric measures. He said night patrolling had been intensified and additional watchmen deployed at vulnerable bridges to monitor water levels closely, as the cyclone was expected to keep affecting the region.

Separately, the 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 online submission of Digital Life Certificates (DLCs) and to address grievances raised by retired railway employees. Such certificates are submitted periodically by pensioners to confirm their status for continued pension disbursement.

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