Railways starts special water train for staff on Shimla-Kalka section

Aarti Kapur | TNN | Updated: Apr 16, 2020, 09:14 IST

With the railways withdrawing its services due to the lockdown, there has been no water supply to these areas

CHANDIGARH: Amid Covid-19 lockdown, families of railway employees residing on the Kalka-Shimla narrow gauge section is facing acute shortage of water supply.
Considering this demand of the employees, Ambala division of the railways has started a special train that will supply water on alternative days to the gang huts (cluster where staff quarters located) and some of the stations that are connected with railway only.
On a normal day, water supply to staff quarters, training schools and stations not connected through road is through a passenger train. However, since March 24 with the railways withdrawing its services due to the lockdown, there has been no water supply to these areas.
There are eight locations where the train will supply water. Out of these, four spots have water supply from irrigation and the public health department while three have natural resources.
A railway official said the purpose of gang huts was to make residential arrangements for staff near stations so that they were available at all times.
Ambala divisional railway manager G M Singh said staff and station employees were managing with stored water supply, but recently matter was raised for regular supply due to rise in temperature that had increase water demand.
"Considering this, a train will ply on this section on alternative days for regular water supply," he said.