Railways to carry relief material for flood victims free of cost

NEW DELHI: Railways today said it will carry relief material for people stranded in Uttarakhand free of cost for 15 days between June 27 and July 9.

A railways ministry statement said trains would carry food, medicines, clothes, building materials, utensils among others free of cost.

"The relief material will be given to district magistrate of the district concerned on the production of a certificate from the consignor that the consignment is a gift or has been purchased with the funds donated by public for flood victims and has not been paid for by the government or any of its agencies," it said.

No claim for any loss or damage to consignment carried under this arrangement will be entertained unless it is clearly proved that the loss or damage took place due to wilful negligence on the part of the railways, it said.

The railways had last week pressed into service special trains to rescue people stranded due to the flash floods at Haridwar, Rishikesh and other areas.

Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge has already instructed the Railway Board to do whatever possible to rescue people from the flood affected areas.

Special trains have been pressed into service from stations like Dehradun, Rishikesh and Haridwar for stranded passengers.