Railways divert, cancel trains after accident

Railways today cancelled three trains from Howrah and diverted as many in view of the train accident in Sainthia, which has claimed 60 lives.

Railways on Monday cancelled three trains from Howrah and diverted as many in view of the train accident in Sainthia, which has claimed 60 lives.

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The cancelled trains include the Howrah-Amritsar and Howrah-Rampurhat-Howrah passenger, according to the Eastern Railway.

The Malda Town-Howrah Intercity Express, Sealdah-Rampurhat Intercity Express and Howrah-Rampurhat Shahid Express have been cancelled.

Trains which were diverted through alternative routes include Kolkata-Balurghat express, Ranchi-Guwahati express, Alipur Dwar-Sealdah and Secunderabad-Guwahati express trains.

The Kanchenjunga Express, Ganadevata Express, Darjeeling Mail, Padatik Express, Jamalpur Express, Kanchankanya Express, Gaya-Howrah Express, Varanasi Express and Saraighat Express were being diverted via Nalhati and Azimganj, it said.

On the other hand, Howrah-Bhopal was rescheduled to leave Howrah at 3.30 pm instead of 1.25 pm.

Railways have opened 14 helplines at different stations, including Howrah, Sainthia, Sealdah, Barddhaman, Maldah, Jamalpur and Dhanabd in Eastern Railway section.

This apart, helpline numbers have also been opened at Ranchi, Hatia, Katihar and New Jalpaiguri.

60 people were killed and over 90 passengers injured when the Uttarbanga Express in high speed tore through the rear of Vananchal Express this morning at Sainthia station in Bhirbhum district of West Bengal, after it apparently overshot the signal in the small hours of the day.