Railways conducts drone mapping of Ghat area in Karnataka

The South Western Railway (SWR) zone conducted an aerial survey of Castle Rock-Kulem Ghat section using a drone camera in Karnataka's Uttar Kannada district to take preventive steps against landslides and water-logging on the tracks.

Bengaluru:The South Western Railway (SWR) zone conducted an aerial survey of Castle Rock-Kulem Ghat section using a drone camera in Karnataka's Uttar Kannada district, an official said on Wednesday.

"The drone mapping of vulnerable locations in Castle Rock-Kulem Ghat section helps in taking preventive steps against landslides and water-logging on the tracks," a SWR spokesman said in a statement. The 27 km Ghat section on the Karnataka-Goa border is part of the rich bio-diverse Western Ghats, which receives heavy rainfall during the South-West monsoon from June-September every year.

Castle Rock in the state's northwest region is located in a heavily forested area, where vegetation is most tropical deciduous. The Ghat section has only a single railway line with no road connectivity. "Steps have been taken to safeguard the tracks in the Ghat section, which is prone to land-slides and water-logging. Embankment walls, sandbags and shoring up of side walls with sleepers have been put in place," said the official.

As additional safety measure, a drone camera was used to record video of spots of water-logging on hill-top, weak spots and loose boulders. "If any weak spot is noticed, a team of engineers, technicians and trackmen takes remedial action to prevent damage or blocking of the railway track," added the statement.

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Sandbags, ballast, boulders, tools and equipment in monsoon wagons are kept ready at Castle Rock, Kulem and Tinaighat to attend to emergencies in the Ghat section.

IANS