Pune: With Marathwada battling its severe drought ever, a train with 50 tankers reached Miraj in western Maharashtra from Kota in Rajasthan.
The train transporting water to drought-hit Marathwada will reach Latur by Monday.
On Sunday, water was being filled in the tankers for the onward journey to Latur, a district which has been staring at its “worst ever” water crisis in decades.
Earlier it was reported , each wagon has a capacity of storing 54,000 litre of water but the railways plans to fill 50,000 litre in each,.
Because that was taking too long, 10 containers were sent on the train and the rest will follow, said railway officials. A total of 5 lakh litres are being transported on this trip.
Railway wagons reach Miraj. Filling up of drinking water in process. Wagons to be sent to Latur soon," Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said.
"Maharashtra Government and Railway Ministry are working hard to bring relief to people in drought affected region of Maharashtra," the CM tweeted.
Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said, "50 Tank Wagons steam cleaned reached Miraj for Latur."
"Water filling from Platform line 2-6 pm today on trial.We do our best for drought," he tweeted.
On April 8, one of two goods trains carrying 50 tank wagons of water for drought-affected areas of Latur departed from Kota workshop for Miraj in Pune division.
The second goods train consisting of 50 wagons is expected to be ready for water loading around April 15, a Railway official said.
"As per instructions from the Ministry of Railways, Kota workshop received two goods trains consisting of 50 tank wagons (BTPN) each for deployment in drought-affected areas of Latur during the summer season and the trips of the trains will be arranged as per the requirement," he said.
The carrying capacity of these wagons is 54,000 litres of waters per wagon.
(PTI)
