Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd (KRCL) has taken several measures to ensure safe running of trains during monsoon.

The 740-km route of Konkan Railway covers the region from Kolad (after Roha station of Central Railway) to Thokur (before Mangaluru station) which receives heavy rainfall during the monsoon season.

A KRCL press release said that 974 personnel will patrol the Konkan Railway route during the monsoon. Vulnerable locations will be patrolled round the clock and stationary watchmen will be deployed for 24 hours at critical locations.

Speed restrictions will be imposed at vulnerable locations. Trains will run at a reduced speed of 40 km per hour in case of heavy rainfall when visibility is limited.

Both loco pilots and guards of trains have been provided with walkie-talkie sets as well and every station is equipped with 25 Watt VHF base station. This enables wireless communication between the train crew and station master.

It said that emergency communication sockets have been provided at a distance of average 1 km along the route.

Self-propelled ARMVs (accident relief medical van) with provision of operation theatre and providing emergency medical aid are kept ready at Ratnagiri and Verna (Goa) along with accident relief train.

Self-recording rain gauges have been installed at stations such as Mangaon, Chiplun, Ratnagiri, Vilwade, Kanakavali, Madgaon, Karwar, Bhatkal and Udupi. These will record the rainfall and alert officials, if needed. Flood warning systems for bridges have been provided at three locations.

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