Title - SCR diverts, cancels trains, sets up help-lines

Makes catering arrangements for those on board the trains.**********
South Central Railway has cancelled, partially cancelled, diverted and re-scheduled several trains due to water flowing above the danger level at a bridge across Thandava River between Tuni and Gullipadu on the Vijayawada-Visakhapatnam section of Vijayawada division.Accordingly, train No.18646 Hyderabad-Howrah East Coast Express (earlier re-scheduled to 4 p.m.) was cancelled.No. 17487 Tirupati-Visakhapatnam Tirumala Express that left on November 3 (between Rajahmundry and Visakhapatnam) will return as no. 17488 from Rajahmundry. No.12728 Hyderabad-Visakhapatnam Godavari Express that left on Nov. 3 was also partially cancelled likewise and will return as No.12727 from Rajahmundry.No. 12862 Hazrat Nizamuddin-Visakhapatnam Link Express which left Hazrat Nizamuddin on Nov. 2 (partially cancelled between Rajahmundry and Visakhapatnam). No.11019 CST Mumbai-Bhubaneswar Konark Express that left on Nov. 3 was partially cancelled between Rajahmundry and Bhubaneswar, to return as No.11020 from Rajahmundry. No.22204 Secunderabad-Visakhapatnam Duronto Express that left on Nov. 3 (partially cancelled between Samalkot and Visakhapatnam) to return as No. 22203 from Rajahmundry.

No.17016 Secunderabad-Bhubaneswar Visakha Express that left on Nov. 3 (partially cancelled between Rajahmundry and Bhubaneswar) will run as a Passenger Special from Rajahmundry to Bhubaneswar at 5 p.m. on Nov. 4 via Vijayawada, Kazipet, Ballarshah, Nagpur, Raipur, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam. No. 12740 Secunderabad-Visakhapatnam Garibrath Express that left on Nov. 3 (partially cancelled between Rajahmundry and Visakahpatnam), will return as No.12739 from Rajahmundry. No.57229 Machilipatnam / Narasapur-Visakhapatnam has been partially cancelled between Rajahmundry- Visakhapatnam.

Train No. 12704 Secunderabad-Howrah Falaknuma Express that left on Nov. 3 was regulated at Tuni and no. 12375 Chennai-Asansol Express that left on Nov. 3 was regulated at Annavaram. Both were diverted to run via Vijayawada-Kazipet- Balharshah-Nagpur-Bilaspur- Jharsiguda-Tatanagar- Kharagpur.

The departures of train No.12704 Secunderabad-Howrah Falaknuma Express, no. 17016 Secunderabad-Bhubaneswar Visakha Express, no. 12728 Hyderabad-Visakhapatnam Godavari and no. 12740 Secunderabad-Visakhapatnam Garib Rath Express were re-scheduled.

Additional help-lines

In addition to the help-lines already set up at Vijayawada, Rajahmundry, Samarlakota and Tuni, additional numbers have been made available.

The new numbers are 040-27786170/27786140 and 27700868 in Secunderabad, 040-23200865 (Hyderabad), 0870-2576430 and 2548660 (Kazipet) and 08742-224541 (Khammam). The helpline numbers already intimated are: 0866-2576796, 2575038, 2575036 (Vijayawada), 0883-2420541, 2420543 (Rajahmundry), 0884-2328824 (Samarlakota), 08854-256552, 253555 (Tuni).

Emergency Control Rooms have been opened at the Rail Nilayam here and at the Divisional Office at Vijayawada. Chief Engineers from SCR headquarters were rushed to Vijayawada Division to assess the field condition and assist in early restoration of services.

SCR has taken steps including catering arrangements on board the trains. Managers of Pantry Cars were contacted to ensure adequate supply of food on board.

For passengers of trains without a pantry, snacks and food packets were made available from the Platform Catering Stalls and by involving local voluntary organisations at Tuni, Rajahmundry and temple authorities at Annavaram and Samarlakota, apart from traders and merchant associations at Rajahmundry.

Full refund was granted to passengers of cancelled or partially cancelled trains apart from those on trains that were long delayed or rescheduled, on cancellation of tickets. Additional refund counters were opened at major stations, the release said.

Keeping in view the rail traffic disruption, 14 trains have been fully cancelled, 11 partially cancelled to avoid any further congestion on the Section.

Twelve long distance trains destined to Bhubaneswar/Howrah and beyond have been diverted via Kazipet, Balharshah and Nagpur to avoid waiting in the affected section. Four trains have been rescheduled.