Heavy rain disrupts train services in Bengal
Heavy showers following inundation of railway tracks led to severe disruption in railways services in different parts of north Bengal on Sunday.
The worst affected were the passengers of Jalpaiguri- bound Darjeeling Mail, which had to be halted at Murarai station in Birbhum district, as eastern railways authorities felt that further movement might hamper passenger security. After being halted there for over 10 hours, the Darjeeling Mail was brought back to Kolkata.
Uttar Banga Express and Kanchenjunga Express too couldn’t reach the destination.
At the same time, several other trains bound for different destinations in north Bengal had to be cancelled. Six trains that had to be cancelled included Kolkata- Guwahati Garib Rath Express, Howrah-Dibrugarh Kamrup Express, Sealdah- New Alipurduar Padatik Express, Sealdah-New Jalpaiguri Darjeeling Mail, Sealdah-Alipurduar Kanchankanya Express and Sealdah- New Cooch Behar Uttar Banga Express.
Sources from the state irrigation department said following continuous rain since Saturday, some lock-gates had to be opened which lead to inundation of a few areas in different parts of north Bengal.
“Officials of the state irrigation and disaster management departments have been kept on high alert. A 24- hour control room had been opened at the state secretariat of Nabanna,” said a state government official.