With rains easing off, Chennai floods have become the focus of residents as well as authorities to bring relief in any way possible. Southern Railway is making special arrangements for stranded Indian Railways passengers to deal with the crisis situation. Here we list all the arrangements by Southern Railway:

1. For the convenience of the suburban passengers skeleton services are run in the following sections:
Chennai Beach – Tiruvallur – Arakkonam – Tiruttani,
Ennore – Gummidipoondi and
Chennai Beach – Velacherry MRTS services

2. Officers are deputed at major stations to oversee the arrangements made for the stranded passengers.

3. Announcements are regularly made through PA system and regular updates about the running of trains are displayed through LED Boards for the information of the passengers.

4. Around 20000 food packets and water packets have been  distributed to stranded passengers at major stations at free of cost in association with  NGOs like Jain Association  and others. Another 10000 food packets are being distributed today.  In addition, Food outlets are also  selling food to the passengers.

5. Supply of sufficient drinking water and food items are ensured in the stations.  Regular cholorination of water is being done.

6. Round the clock Medical facilities are extended in the Chennai Central, Chennai Egmore, Madurai and Tiruchchirappalli stations and also in trains which have been stopped enroute.

a. Medical booths with sufficient medicines are made available at the major stations like Chennai Central, Chennai Egmore, Chennai Tambaram and Chengalpattu.
b. Sanitation and cleanliness are ensured at all major stations/platforms

6. RPF personnel are deputed at Chennai Central, Chennai Egmore, Pallavaram, Guduvancheri, Chengalpattu, Arakkonam, Tiruvallur, Katpadi and Jolarpettai to ensure the following:
a. Ensuring security of passengers and their properties
b. Waist band and neck band announcement system were made for providing information and to guide passengers
c. To regulate queues at Cancellation counters, ticket counters, information centres and foot outlets.
d. Special RPF help booths are set up at Chennai Central, Chennai Egmore, Arakkonam and Katpadi to supplement efforts of Commercial department.

7. Wide publicity is given in the Press and media about the cancellation of trains and refunds are made without any restriction and sufficient cash is also made available. This was also tweeted and posted in the Facebook. Cancellation of trains are also updated in the PRS system to facilitate full refund.

8. Special trains are run today (03.12.2015) at 13 hrs of from Chennai Beach to  Mangalore and at14 hrs  from Chennai  Beach to Bangalore to cater to the stranded passengers.  Arrangements are made with MTC buses for taking passengers to their residence.

9. At various affected locations,  action is being taken on war-footing to attend to the repair work. P.way materials and other track materials are arranged to attend to the work and senior officers are available at site to oversee the work.
a.  At km 85/2-10 between Chengalpattu  and  Villupuram Up/Down line section  of Chennai Division was suspended on 01.12.15 at 15.30 hrs due to erosion of bank, as water over-flowing from the Chembarambakkam  lake.  5 wagons with  boulders and sand were unloaded  to attend to the track inspite of heavy rains on 02.12.15 and down line track was certified fit at 11.45 hrs on 02.12.15.

b. At km 78, in the bridge No 167 between Tada and Sullurpeta of Chennai Central – Gudur section of  Chennai Division,  water from Kalingi river was over flowing above the danger level.  The track was suspended at  21.00 hrs of 01.12.15.  The condition of the bridge was continuously monitored and necessary precautions were taken and the bridge was certified fit  for traffic at 12.30 hrs of 03.12.15.

c. At  km 38, between Guduvancherry and Vandalur of Tambaram – Chengalpattu section of Chennai Division both Up and down lines were suspended due to track washed out/eroded  for about 500 m length along with formation and ballast.  The track is under attention and all men and materials are put into action on war footing for restoration of the track.

d. Bridge No. 53 between Guindy and Saidapet has been suspended due to Adyar river  is over flowing the girder even now and the bridge is under ocntinous monitoring.  All services including Chennai Beach – Tambaram suburban services are suspended in the section

e. In BBQ Basin Bridge – Chenani Central because of the water overflowing in Coovum river and all the lines are submerged.  The third line between Chennai Egmore  and Chennai Beach are also suspended. The train operations are monitored and regulated in such a way that safety of the train and passengers is ensured.