Flood alert system for rail bridges on anvil

The Water/Flood Monitoring System,also known as the flood warning device,comprises sensors,a SIM card connected with a server and two signal pillars erected on both sides of the bridge. The entire system is connected through wires. The server acts as a databank and generates warning alert when the river’s surface level touches the danger mark.

“Five SMS alerts will be generated and sent to concerned officials of the bridge maintenance and engineering section. The signals on both sides of bridge will automatically turn red and stop trains,” said Rajesh Dutt Vajpai,Chief Public Relation Officer of NCR. Depending upon the situation,the engineers may altogether stop the trains or allow them to move with less speed.

“There are hundreds of railway bridges in the NCR division. Our experts will inspect each bridge and shortlist those rivers,where flood-like situation occurs every year,as sensitive. The monitoring system will be installed in these bridges,” said Vajpai.

The NCR has got the device prepared by the Hyderabad-based Efftronics Systems Private Limited. Each device costs around Rs 2 lakh. The Vijayawada Railway Division in South Central Railways had successfully installed the device two years ago.