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Understanding the Precautionary Measures As Cyclone Remal Strikes West Bengal
The Remal cyclone, which formed in the Bay of Bengal, made landfall in various parts of West Bengal last night, causing damage. Various precautionary measures were taken before the arrival of the cyclone. As part of these measures, the wheels of all the trains standing at Shalimar railway station were tied to the tracks with chains.
Remal cyclone formed over a week ago as a result of changes in the Bay of Bengal. As expected, this cyclone made landfall in West Bengal last night. The central and state governments took precautionary measures and implemented necessary actions in the areas where the cyclone was expected to hit. All necessary steps were taken to minimize or avoid damage wherever it was likely to occur.
As part of these efforts, railway employees at Shalimar railway station in West Bengal tied the wheels of all the parked trains to the tracks using chains. This video was posted by ANI administration on their social media pages. Many were surprised by this.
The Meteorological Department warned that winds could reach speeds of around 110 to 120 kilometers per hour, with gusts possibly reaching up to 135 kilometers per hour. Some may have wondered why trains would be prone to being blown away and why they were being tied with chains.
There’s a scientific reason behind this. Railway employees didn’t tie the trains with chains because they were afraid they would fly away in the cyclone. Before we understand the reason for this, we need to understand how they park the train. Just like how we park vehicles, trains are also parked.
When we park a car for a long period, we use a handbrake. However, if we need to leave the car for an extended period, we put blocks under the wheels instead of engaging the handbrake to prevent the wheels from moving. This is because engaging the brake for prolonged periods can damage the brakes.
Hence, we don't leave the brakes engaged all the time. However, to prevent the car from moving, we place blocks under the wheels. Similarly, when parking a train, they don't engage the brakes. If the brake is engaged for a long time, a brake failure can occur.
Therefore, they first bring the train to a specific position, stop it using the brakes, and then place iron blocks under the wheels to keep them from moving. They then disengage the brake. This prevents the train from moving.
Precautionary Measures Taken During Cyclones
These iron blocks are limited in number. Therefore, in their absence, the wheels are secured using chains like this. Even if the train moves slightly, there will be no major damage.
During cyclones, winds are strong, making it more likely for trains to move on the tracks. This precautionary measure taken by railway employees is to prevent this from happening.
DriveSpark Thinks
Many people were surprised when they saw this video that went viral on social media. People questioned why such measures were being taken. Some ridiculed it. However, many people weren't aware of the scientific basis behind this decision. The actions taken by the railway employees were absolutely necessary.
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