Dooars rail services hit after train jumps tracks

TT, 13 December 2018, Jalpaiguri: Train movement in the Dooars came to a screeching halt on Thursday morning as a passenger train bound for Dinhata from Siliguri derailed between Bagrakote and Damdim stations while approaching a new girder laid by a few hours back.

No passenger was but due to the derailment, some trains were cancelled and six others short-terminated at different stations. The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) authorities also diverted six long distance trains through another route.

Sources said railway authorities were building a passage for water of a hilly stream between Ghish River and the Bagrakote station. On Thursday morning, a girder was placed above the underpass. Due to this work, the passenger train bound for Dinhata was stopped at Bagrakote station for around two-and-half hours.

After the installation, the train was allowed to move along the route. The engine and the first coach crossed the One of the wheels of the train that derailed near Bagrakote station in the Dooars derailed girder but wheels of the second coach derailed as it approached the girder.

A relief train was sent and C.V. Raman, the divisional manager of Alipurduar division of NFR, also went to the site. "After the train is removed from the spot, repairs would be carried out," said Raman.

He also mentioned that no injury or casualty has been reported due to the incident. "An inquiry would be conducted to know how it happened," added the DRM.

Due to the derailment, passengers heading for different destinations had to walk up to the highway and take buses.

"The train was moving slowly but it suddenly stopped with a jerk. We were worried and jumped outside as it stopped. Later, we learnt about the derailment," said Md. Russel, a passenger.

On Thursday evening, P.J. Sharma, the chief public relations officer of NFR, said repair works had been completed.

"The section was cleared and the track fit certificate was issued at 4.35pm. Train movement has started getting normal along the route," said Sharma.Some of the trains diverted through the New Jalpaiguri-Jalpaiguri Road-New Cooch Behar route include the Kamakhya-Anand Vihar Express, Kanchankanya Express, Capital Express and New Bongaigaon-Dhubri - Siliguri Junction Special, railway sources said.