Maoists blast railway track in Bihar

Maoists blast a railway track between Bhalui Halt and Jamui railway stations on the East Central Railway just past midnight leading to suspension of traffic on Patna-Howrah line for several hours.

Maoists allegedly blasted a railway track between Bhalui Halt and Jamui railway stations on the East Central Railway just past midnight leading to suspension of traffic on Patna-Howrah line for several hours.

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The down track was blown up in a stretch of two-and-a-half metres soon after midnight following which traffic was also suspended on the up track as a precautionary measure, ECR spokesman AK Chandra told PTI.

He said a light engine was run on the up track to look for any explosives in the morning after which traffic on Patna-Howrah line was resumed on the up line around 7 am.

The down track is likely to be restored by this evening.

Maoists have called a 48-hour bandh in West Bengal, Jharkhand and Bihar against the violence in Nandigram.