Tracks Partially Restored : Train Running Still Affected

GUWAHATI, Aug 26: Engineers and workers repaired and restored the damaged Up line at 05.00 A.M. this morning after working through whole night amid rain at the accident site between Panbari and Digaru where 22 wagons of an empty goods train had derailed yesterday. The derailment had damaged more than 500 metres of both Up and Down lines. However, with the restoration of Up line some trains stranded at different stations on both sides of the accident site resumed their journey. The first train to pass the accident site was 15602 New Delhi – Silchar Purbottar Sampark Kranti Express. Later 12504 Agartala – New Delhi Humsafar Express also passed through the section. This has been stated in an NFR press release.

Works are undergoing despite several hindrances including location of the accident site and hundreds of workers have been working round the clock to restore the Down line by this evening. Various machines have been pressed into service to supplement efforts by the workers and engineers. It is expected that trains services will normalize by tomorrow morning.

It may be mentioned that several trains had to be halted at Guwahati, Rangiya and Lumding stations because of the accident affecting several thousands of passengers. At Lumding station alone, more than 2700 passengers were stranded. N. F. Railway had taken several steps to ensure that the inconvenience caused to the passengers is mitigated.

At Lumding adequate foods for the stranded passengers was arranged on payment. At Rangiya and Guwahati, around 400 food packets and water was distributed free of cost for the needy passengers. Repeated announcements were made at all stations providing passengers information on train probable movements and rescheduling and cancellation of trains. Commercial Inspectors were deputed at all stations to ensure that the passengers face minimum discomfort.

As the train service had faced cascading affect of the disruption, some trains have to be cancelled, short terminated and rescheduled, the press release stated.