Ashwini Vaishnaw Reviews Railways’ Preparedness for Cyclone Montha, Orders High Alert and Swift Response

New Delhi, October 28, 2025: In light of the approaching Cyclone ‘Montha’, Union Minister for Railways, Communications and Electronics & Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, held a comprehensive review meeting with senior officials from South Central Railway (SCR) and East Coast Railway (ECoR) to assess preparedness and response mechanisms. The meeting, conducted through video conferencing, focused on ensuring the safety of passengers, timely communication, and swift restoration of train operations in cyclone-affected regions.

The review was attended by Sanjay Kumar Srivastava, General Manager, South Central Railway, along with key divisional heads and officers from both zones. Officials apprised the Minister of the precautionary measures already initiated to minimize disruption to railway services in the event of heavy rainfall and high wind speeds associated with the cyclone.

Vaishnaw emphasized that passenger safety and infrastructure protection remain the top priorities for the Ministry. He directed all railway zones to activate control rooms and divisional war rooms to monitor the evolving weather situation round the clock. The Minister also reviewed the readiness of technical teams for track inspection, power restoration, and communication network management in the event of damage caused by the cyclone.

Detailed contingency plans were discussed, including the deployment of emergency response teams, positioning of diesel locomotives, and arrangement of standby generators and essential equipment to ensure uninterrupted train operations. The zones have also been instructed to maintain close coordination with the India Meteorological Department (IMD), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and respective State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) for timely information sharing and action.

The General Manager of South Central Railway informed that vulnerable stretches and bridges have been identified, and patrolling teams have been deployed to continuously assess the safety of tracks. Additionally, temporary shelters and emergency medical arrangements have been made at key railway stations falling in the projected cyclone path to ensure the safety and comfort of stranded passengers, if any.

 Vaishnaw reiterated the importance of swift restoration of rail services once weather conditions normalize and directed officials to ensure rapid clearance of debris, inspection of overhead equipment, and communication system repair to minimize downtime.

The Ministry of Railways has also urged passengers to stay updated through official communication channels of Indian Railways for any train regulation or cancellation notices.

As Cyclone ‘Montha’ advances towards the eastern coast, Indian Railways continues to demonstrate proactive preparedness and coordination across zones, reflecting its commitment to maintaining uninterrupted connectivity and public safety during natural calamities.