By Debasmita Chowdhury

The Sealdah Division of the Indian Railways has rolled out a comprehensive monsoon action plan to keep trains running safely and to ensure the safety of passengers, during the monsoon season.  The division has implemented measures to minimise disruptions, under the guidance of Divisional Railway Manager Rajeev Saxena.

The Railway Protection Force, equipped with 800 rain-protection suits, is on high alert.  A 24/7 emergency control centre is tasked to monitor rainfall in real time, while officers from all departments are stationed at critical points. To tackle waterlogging, diesel generators and water tanks have been placed at key locations. All 124 Limited Height Subways now feature drainage pumps and sensors, while overhead equipment teams are on stand-by on tower wagons for rapid repairs. Rain gauges and anemometers (instruments to measure speed of wind), installed across the network, will feed data directly to the control centre.

(Debasmita Chowdhury is an intern at The Kolkata office of The Indian Express)