Railways to transport relief material free of cost to Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka

New Delhi, Oct 7 (ANI): In the wake of recent flood crisis in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, Minister of Railways Mamata Banerjee has sanctioned a scheme under which the Railways will transport the relief material free of charge booked by various agencies to flood affected districts of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka for distribution among the flood victims.

The Railway Minister has taken this major humanitarian gesture in a prompt manner as a special case with a view to facilitate movement of relief material to flood affected areas for the benefit of millions of people marooned by the recent flood in these two states.

The Railway Minister also directed the General Managers of South Central Railway (Headquarters at Secunderabad) and of South Western Railway (Headquarters at Hubli) to extend all possible assistance to concerned State Governments in carrying out relief and rescue operations.

She also spoke personally to the Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka and offered full cooperation of Railways in this hour of crisis.

Relief material may be booked by District Magistrate, Relief Commissioner, Government and Non-Government Organisations, recognized political parties, trusts, Philanthropic organizations, social services organizations, reputed press and electronic media for transportation by rail from any station in the country to flood affected districts of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

The relief material will be transported on the condition that the consignment of the relief material is addressed to the Relief Commissioner/District Magistrate of the flood affected districts which include; Bijapuir, Bagalkopt, Raichur, Bellary of Karnataka and Mehabubnagar, Kurnool, Krishna, Guntur and Nalgonda of Andhra Pradesh. The Railways will not charge any money for this kind of transportation.

The relief material so transported will be distributed under the supervision of the authorities of the State Government. (ANI)