Bhubaneswar, Mar 31 (UNI) The East Coast Railway (ECoR) has successfully restored normal train operations on both tracks of the Cuttack-Nergundi Rail Section by Monday morning.
Train services were disrupted following the derailment of eleven bogies of the 12551 Bangalore-Guwahati AC SF Express on Sunday at 11:54 AM between Kendrapara Road and Nergundi stations in the Cuttack-Bhadrak Railway Section.
At least one passenger died , and three others sustained injuries in the mishap.
ECoR’s dedicated railway personnel worked tirelessly through the night under challenging conditions to restore the affected tracks.
ECoR General Manager Parmeshwar Funkwal personally coordinated the restoration efforts, ensuring swift and efficient action with his continuous presence at the site.
By 07:15 AM on Monday, the tracks were cleared and ready for train movement, and the Overhead Equipment (OHE) was fully restored by 07:40 AM.
The first train on the down line passed through at 09:30 AM, while the up line resumed service shortly thereafter.
Railway personnel, equipped with sleeper rakes, Poclain machines, tower cranes, and additional support from NDRF, ODRAF, and the district administration, played a crucial role in restoring the track by Monday morning, according to ECoR sources.
Trains resumed movement at a reduced speed of approximately 10 kilometers per hour as restoration work continued. Speed limits will be gradually increased as the situation stabilizes.
Due to the derailment, ECoR had diverted 38 down-line trains and 17 up-line trains to alternative routes, minimizing disruptions for passengers.
Throughout the incident, priority was given to ensuring the safe and prompt travel of passengers aboard the affected train.
By Sunday evening, efforts shifted towards transporting passengers to their destinations while restoration work remained the primary focus.
According to ECoR sources, the first train to pass through the affected site was a goods train at 09:30 AM, followed by the first passenger-carrying train, the 22823 Bhubaneswar-New Delhi Rajdhani Express, which passed the site on the down line at 10:25 AM.
UNI DP KK