Alert locals spot crack in rail track, avert huge accident

Kolkata: Fortunately, an accident was averted as the locals happened to spot a crack in the railway track between Asansol and Nimcha stations in South Eastern Railway on Wednesday morning.

Railway services were affected following the incident with many trains including Delhi-Sealdah and Delhi-Howrah Rajdhani Express stranded at various stations. Normalcy was restored after the repair works were completed by the engineers.

Some locals drew the attention of the railways officers after they found a crack in the railway track on the down line. They reported the matter to the trackman, who in turn called up Ranigunj station. The train services were immediately stopped on the affected railway track. Railway services were disrupted for nearly two hours on early Wednesday morning.

The Coal Field express was stopped in between Asansol and Nimcha stations following the incident, a railway official said. Many other trains remained stranded at

various stations.

Passengers who were travelling on various long distance trains faced inconvenience due to the incident.

After being informed about the crack, the maintenance team of the railways along with the engineers rushed to the spot and started repair work on a war footing. The long distance trains were later passed through the Up line after they had halted at different railway stations.

Down Dhanbad-Howrah Coal Field Express was also among the ones stuck due to the incident. The crack was later repaired and normal services was restored.

The railways engineers examined how the track developed a crack. It is suspected that variation in temperature during day and night in the last few days might have led to the crack.

The exact cause of the incident is yet to be confirmed by the railways officials.

A probe has been initiated in this regard.