Bhubaneswar: A day after Bangalore-Guwahati AC SF Kamakhya Express derailed near Nergundi in Odisha’s Cuttack district, East Coast Railway (ECoR) on Monday successfully restored normal train operations on both tracks affected by the mishap.
ECoR said in a statement that normal train services were restored on the tracks of Cuttack-Nergundi Rail Section by Monday morning. The derailment, which occurred between Kendrapada Road and Nergundi stations in the Cuttack-Bhadrak Railway Section, disrupted train services temporarily.
Dedicated railway personnel worked tirelessly through the night and under challenging conditions to restore the affected tracks. ECoR General Manager Parmeshwar Funkwal coordinated the restoration efforts, ensuring swift and efficient action with his personal presence at the site around the clock.
The track was cleared and ready for train movement by 7.30 am and the Overhead Equipment (OHE) was fully restored by 7.40 am. The first train on the “down line” passed through at 9.30 am, while the “up-line” resumed service shortly thereafter, it said.
First passenger carried train 22823 Bhubaneswar-New Delhi Rajdhani Express passed the site in down line at 10.25 am.
It may be noted that one person was killed and several others injured as the express train derailed on Sunday. The deceased was identified as 22-year-old Suvankar Roy of Alipurdwar in West Bengal, a railway official said, adding that the youth jumped from the train after derailment and.
A special train had carried the stranded passengers to Kamakhya from the accident site.
Key Points:
• Restoration: Railwaymen, working with sleeper rakes, poclain machines, tower cranes, and additional personnel from NDRF/ODRAF and District administration, were instrumental in restoring the track by Monday morning.
• Resumption of Services: Trains resumed normal movement at reduced speeds (approximately 10 kilometers per hour) as restoration work continued. Speed limits will be gradually increased as the situation stabilizes.
• Train Diverts and Alternate Routes: Due to the derailment, ECoR diverted 38 Down Line trains and 17 Up Line trains to alternative routes, ensuring minimal disruption to passengers.
Diverted train route on March 31
• 20892 Brahmapur-Tata Vande Bharat Express
• 22503 Kanyakumari-Dibrugarh Express
• 12278 Puri-Howrah Shatabdi Express
• 12074 Bhubaneswar-Howrah Jan Shatabdi Express
• 18414 Puri-Paradeep Express
• 18416 Puri-Barbil Express
• And more…
Trains That Commenced Journey on March 30,and Ran Via Barang-Naraj-Kapilas Road on March 31 included:
01. 22841 Trivandrum-Shalimar Express.
02. 18046 Hyderabad-Shalimar East Coast Express.
03. 12842 Chennai-Shalimar Coromandal Express.
04. 22808 Chennai-Santragachhi AC Express.
05. 08012 Puri-Bhanjapur biweekly Express
06. 12880 Bhubaneswar-LTT Express
07. 12245 Howrah-Bangalore Express
08. 22824 New Delhi-Bhubaneswar Rajdhani (29.03.2025)
09. 22855 Santragachhi-Tirupati
10. 18045 Shalimar-Hyderabad East Coast
11. 12504 Agartala-Bangalore Express
12. 07222 Santragachhi-Secunderabad Special
13. 12277 Howrah-Puri Express
14. And more…
Efforts in Passenger Care:
Throughout the incident, priority was given to ensuring the safe and prompt travel of passengers aboard the affected train. By Sunday evening, the focus shifted towards transporting passengers to their destinations, while the restoration of services took precedence.
ECoR sincerely appreciates the cooperation and understanding of passengers and the support of local authorities in completing this challenging restoration effort. The commitment of railway personnel in restoring services swiftly, even in adverse conditions, demonstrates their unwavering dedication to maintaining seamless transportation for the people of Odisha and beyond.
