Train operations in Balasore, Odisha restart after a 78-hour shutdown following a major accident. 133 train cancellations are expected to disrupt passengers until June 7th.
JAMSHEDPUR – After a lapse of 78 and a half hours following a major accident, passenger trains resumed operations on the damaged main lines at Bahanaga in Balasore, Odisha, on Sunday night.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav was present at the site on Monday, overseeing the work of the railway employees.
The Bhubaneswar-Anand Vihar Sampark Kranti and Puri-Delhi Purushottam, both were delayed by several hours due to the incident.
The Anand Vihar-Puri Nilanchal Express was also delayed by 6 hours.
The derailment, which occurred due to the collision between Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express, Yesvantpur-Howrah Express and a goods train on Friday, suspended train services between Hijli and Balasore for 175 km.
The accident affected around 500 train operations, leading to more than two hundred cancellations and several diversions. The tragic incident resulted in 275 casualties and over 1200 injuries.
Despite the resumption of train services, the Railways anticipate further disruption due to the absence of available train racks on various routes.
As a result, 133 trains have been cancelled from June 5th to 7th as per orders issued from the South East Zone on Monday evening.
Repairs are still ongoing on the loop line in Odisha, which is expected to be fully operational by Wednesday afternoon. Meanwhile, the South East Zone has distributed Rs. 12.76 crores as compensation to the dependents of the deceased and injured passengers.
