Goods train derails in Bihar, traffic disrupted on Mughalsarai-Howrah route

Rail traffic on the Howrah-Delhi Grand Chord section has been disrupted.

Train movement on the Howrah-Delhi Grand Chord section was affected after around 16 empty wagons of a goods train derailed between Karmnasa-Dhanichha stations under Mughalsarai railway station of East Central Railway (ECR) in the wee hours on Wednesday.

Sixteen wagons of a goods train derailed on Mughalsarai-Howrah railway line.(ANI Twitter)

No casualty has, however, been reported in the accident, which had affected movement of 15 trains.

Rajesh Kumar, the Chief Public Relation Officer (CPRO) of ECR said railway authorities have begun a probe into the cause of the derailment. “At least 15-16 empty wagons of a goods train derailed at 3.55am on the Gaya-Mughalsarai rail section. The goods train was headed to Dhanbad coalfield,” he added.

“We have not been able to pinpoint the reason behind the derailment, but an inquiry has been instituted. We had to stop over 10 trains at various stations for a few hours,” said a senior railway official. He said that a railway team was working to remove the wagons from the track and restore operations.

“It will take at least four to five hours before normal traffic can resume,” he added.

The derailment had affected train movement on the crucial Howrah-Mughalsarai route, which connects Dhanbad, Gaya, Sasaram and Dehri-on-Sone. Several trains have been diverted via Sasaram-Ara-Mughalsarai, Gaya-Patna and Dehri-on-Sone-Chopan-Allahabad railway stations. Trains have also been diverted through the Mughalsarai-Patna-Jhajha section. The diversions could mean that passengers would have to travel six to 10 hours more than the scheduled travel time to reach their destinations.

Mughalsarai divisional railway manager Kishore Kumar along with other senior officials had rushed to the spot. Accident relief trains from Mughalsarai and Gaya had also been sent to the accident site for relief and restoration operation.

The CPRO said top railway officials were camping at the accident site.