Train services restored in Bihar after 7-hour disruption following heavy rains

Train movement was temporarily disrupted due to overtopping of rail tracks after heavy rains in eastern Bihar following depression over Bay of Bengal.

Train movement at the Kajra station on the Kiul-Bhagalpur railway section in Bihar was restored after almost seven hours of disruption on Wednesday due to overtopping of rail tracks after incessant rains since Tuesday.

Submerged railway tracks at Kajra station in Bihar’s Lakhisarai district temporarily disrupted movement of trains on Wednesday.(Pankaj Kumar/HT photo)

Train movement between Jamui and Chaura railway stations of Bihar’s Jamui district was also temporarily stopped for two hours since 9.50am due to water flowing over the tracks.

At least seven trains were stranded at different locations due to overtopping of tracks on the Kiul-Bhagalpur railway section, said DC Jha, chief yard master of Bhagalpur.

The east-bound trains to Bhagalpur that were disrupted included the Jan Sewa Express from Muzaffarpur, Farakka Express from Delhi and the Danapur-Sahebganj Intercity Express. The Jan Sewa Express was stranded at Uren, the Farakka Express at Kiul and the Danapur-Sahebganj Intercity Express at Lakhisarai stations.

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The north and west-bound trains affected were the Farakka Express to Delhi, the Sealdah-Varanasi Express, Bhagalpur-Danapur intercity Express and the Howrah-Gaya Express. These trains were halted at Abhaypur, Jamalpur, Dasrathpur and Masudan railway stations.

Railway tracks submerged at Kajra station following heavy rains in eastern Bihar. (Pankaj Kumar/HT photo)

Bhagalpur station superintendent Onkar Prasad said the Anand Vihar (Delhi)-bound Vikramshila Express was rescheduled by 45 minutes to leave Bhagalpur junction at 12 noon.

Malda’s additional divisional railway manager (ADRM) VK Sahoo said the disruption of train traffic was due to submergence of railway track following heavy rains.

Eastern Bihar experienced heavy rain and gusty surface wind in the last two days due to depression over Bay of Bengal.

Sources said the Chandan river was in spate following heavy rains during the last 24 hours. A major part of the river flows through Bihar’s Banka district, where the authorities had sounded an alert. Sources, however, said the river had not overtopped its banks at any location.

Banka district magistrate Kundan Kumar said the situation was under control. “However, an alert has been sounded to cope with any eventuality arising out of incessant rains,” he added.