Free train travel for Nepal earthquake victims

NEW DELHI: Reaching out to earthquake victims evacuated from Nepal, the Railways has made travel for them free of cost besides arranging special trains.

A special railway reservation counter has also been set up at Delhi's T-3 International Airport so that evacuees can reach their destination within India without any hassle.

All railway stations near the Nepal border have been fully geared up to provide all possible assistance, according to a senior Railway Ministry official.

Special travel arrangements have been made at Gorakhpur railway station in Uttar Pradesh and Raxaul station in Bihar for people coming from Nepal. Also, special trains have been arranged from Raxaul towards Kolkata and Patna.

Help booths and first aid centres have been set up at these border stations for the benefit of the victims.

"The stranded persons coming from Nepal are being provided berths/seat in trains by attaching additional coaches," said the official.

So far, more than 2,100 persons have been sent to different destinations from Gorakhpur and more than 3,000 persons have been cleared to different destinations from Raxaul, the official said.

Sufficient number of coaches are being kept as standby at both places for any short notice requirement.

Senior railway officials are camping at the stations and coordinating with the local state government administration to supervise assistance.

Additional goods trains of petrol/diesel tanks have been pressed into service and are being moved to Raxaul in the faster mode to ensure availability of adequate stock of petroleum products for supply to Nepal.

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu is monitoring the situation closely and has directed the Railway Board members to do the same.