Maligaon, May 13: In a significant step towards strengthening railway safety and disaster preparedness during the rainy season, the Northeast Frontier Railway has initiated the installation of Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) at vulnerable locations across its network.
The initiative aims to ensure accurate and real-time weather forecasting, enabling timely preventive measures during floods, landslides and adverse weather conditions.
A total of nine Automatic Weather Stations are being set up at strategically identified vulnerable locations under NFR. These locations include the Lumding-Badarpur section in Assam, the Katakhal – Sairang section connecting Mizoram and the Jiribam – Khongsang section in Manipur.
These areas are particularly prone to heavy rainfall, flooding and landslides during the monsoon season, making continuous weather monitoring essential for safe train operations.
So far, three Automatic Weather Stations have already been successfully installed, while the remaining six are currently under various stages of installation and are expected to be completed by the end of May 2026.
The installation of these weather stations is being carried out in close coordination with the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The AWS network will provide precise and location-specific weather data, helping railway authorities to take timely and informed decisions during emergencies and adverse weather situations.
This initiative is expected to significantly improve preparedness and response mechanisms, particularly in flood-prone and landslide-sensitive sections.
The Automatic Weather Stations are equipped with advanced sensors capable of monitoring multiple weather parameters with high accuracy.
The rain gauge sensors can record rainfall intensity up to 900 mm per hour, while temperature sensors can measure temperatures ranging from minus 40 degree Celsius to plus 75 degree Celsius.
Wind monitoring sensors can record wind speeds up to 80 metres per second. In addition, the stations are equipped with humidity sensors covering a range from 0 to 100 % and pressure sensors capable of measuring atmospheric pressure up to 1200 hPa.
The deployment of these advanced weather monitoring systems reflects Northeast Frontier Railway’s continued commitment towards enhancing operational safety, adopting modern technology and ensuring uninterrupted rail connectivity in challenging geographical regions during the monsoon season.
