Heroic RPF Team Rescues Stranded Passengers in Chennai During Cyclone Vardah

On December 12, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu tweeted about the rescue efforts undertaken by RPF personnel in Chennai during the cyclone, and the story behind it is rather extraordinary.

A team of just three RPF personnel heroically walked right into the storm to rescue stranded passengers in a train.

Our team braving tough conditions to ensure public safety.In full flow to support people during #cyclonevardah https://t.co/cA3qU1SFAu
— Suresh Prabhu (@sureshpprabhu) December 12, 2016

Train number 42013 that travels from Madras Moore Market Complex (MMMC) and Gummidipundi, was the only train that had not been anchored because it had been expected to complete its 90-minute journey in time. But due to the ferocity of cyclone Vardah, the train never reached its destination and more than the 100 passengers were stranded.

To make matters worse, all communication between the control room and the train was cut off. The anxiety in the control room grew because they were aware that the cyclone was going to get worse and passengers had to be rescued as soon as possible.

RPF staff Chennai walked 4 KMs despite of adversities of cyclone, reached the spot, rescued passengers stranded & sent by bus to safer place pic.twitter.com/02Ha2zNrvq
— srdscmas (@srdscrpfmas) December 12, 2016

Hence a team of three men including an assistant sub-inspector and two constables of RPF was put together. As all the pathways had been blocked, the team decided to walk the distance of 4 km to reach the stranded passengers. The passengers were evacuated in the safest way possible. Meanwhile, bus transportation had been arranged for them — thanks to the coordinated efforts by the RPF personnel and local police.

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