Proposal to shift Kawas railway station

Barmer, Sept 6 (UNI) There is a proposal to shift the Kawas railway station to a new site as it has been submerged since the past 15 days.

The rail traffic has come to halt at the station as the station and tracks are still under 10-12 feet water, and the Railways are having to bear heavy losses.

Railway officials were hopeful that they would be able to at least save their equipment and shift it to a safer place but have been unale to do because of the stancling water.

The chief engineer of railway has inspected the station and sent the report to the headquarters. In view of the time being taken to drain out the water, a proposal has been mooted to shift the station to a new site.

We are incurring a loss of lakhs of rupees each day on disruption of the train tracks,'' Railway sources said adding that the Thar Express between Munabao in India and Khokrapar in Pakistan will not run for another four weeks.

Meanwhile, life is limping back to normalcy in Malwa village. Six highpowered pumps have been employed to drain out the water from this submerged village. At least 104 families have been shifted to camps.

Transport minister Yunus Khan said the Malwa villagers do not want stay in their village any longer and as such the biggest problem before the state government is their rehabilitation.

Villagers have been consulted while deciding upon the new site for their village.

Mr Khan said two sites of 466 and 234 acres have been identified near Malwa where 36 temporary tents have been set up. A hospital and school are also being set up. Since Muslims dominate Malwa, a place for their Namaz is also being built.

At least 39 people died in Malwa in the recent flash flood there.

UNI XC RRT VD MIR RN1756