Bhubaneswar: Puri-Howrah Vande Bharat Express train was detained for several hours near Jajpur Road station after a tree fell on it on Sunday afternoon.
As per reports, the high-speed train left Puri on schedule at 1.50 pm and reached Jajpur Road in right time at 4.30 pm. While it was moving towards Howrah, the area was struck by nor’westerly.
Due to gusty wind, a tree fell on the train track between Baitarani Road and Manjuri Road stations. The front glass of the train’s pilot cabin has been damaged and overhead power cables have been snapped. The train has been stopped at the station since 4.35 pm.
The officials of South-East Railway (SER) along with a technical team and equipment have rushed to the spot. They were engaged in restoration work to resume onward journey of the Vande Bharat Express. The train expected to be ready to run again by 7.30 PM.
The East Coast Railway (ECoR) has informed that a diesel engine will clear the train very soon from the site to Manjuri Road as the pantograph is entangled with the overhead wire. After the train is cleared upto Manjuri Road, it will again work with its normal engine upto destination.
It may be noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had flagged off the Vande Bharat Express train from Puri through video-conferencing on May 18.
