Train accident in Odisha: Normal train services resume

Bhubaneswar: East Coast Railway (ECoR) successfully restored normal train operations on both tracks of the Cuttack-Nergundi Rail Section by Monday morning following the derailment of the 12551 Bangalore-Guwahati AC SF Express on Sunday, March 30, 2025, at approximately 11:54 AM.

The derailment, which occurred between Kendrapara Road and Nergundi stations in the Cuttack-Bhadrak Railway Section, disrupted train services temporarily.

ECoR’s dedicated railwaymen worked tirelessly through the night and under challenging conditions to restore the affected tracks. Shri Parmeshwar Funkwal, General Manager of East Coast Railway, coordinated the restoration efforts, ensuring swift and efficient action with his personal presence at the site around the clock.

By 07:15 AM on Monday, the track was cleared and ready for train movement and the Overhead Equipment (OHE) was fully restored by 07:40 AM. The first train on the “down line” passed through at 09:30 AM, while the “up-line” resumed service shortly thereafter.

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.

Trains Run Via Barang-Naraj-Kapilas Road (March 31, 2025):

• 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, 2025, and Ran Via Barang-Naraj-Kapilas Road (March 31, 2025):

1. 22841 Trivandrum-Shalimar Express.
2. 18046 Hyderabad-Shalimar East Coast Express.
3. 12842 Chennai-Shalimar Coromandal Express.
4. 22808 Chennai-Santragachhi AC Express.
5. 08012 Puri-Bhanjapur biweekly Express
6. 12880 Bhubaneswar-LTT Express
7. 12245 Howrah-Bangalore Express
8. 22824 New Delhi-Bhubaneswar Rajdhani (29.03.2025)
9. 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.