Engine derailment hits rail traffic at Pratapgarh station
engine of Pratapgarh-Lucknow passenger train derailed at Pratapgarh station during shunting early on Sunday. It hit movement of trains at the station for the next seven hours. These trains were about to pass from the platform number 1 of the junction. They were taken through platform number 2 and 3 of the junction. Much inconvenience was caused to train passengers due to change of the platforms at the last minute.The train engine was put back on the track at around 12noon after which the train departed for Lucknow. No untoward incident took place at the station during this period. As per reports, the train engine had to take another engine to Lucknow. The other engine was stationed at the yard of the junction for the last three days. The passenger train was supposed to depart from the station at 5.40am. However after shunting the defunct engine, the passenger train engine headed for the platform number 1 but it got derailed in front of the GRP station due to a hitch at the point number 34 of the track. The train driver informed senior railway officials who rushed to the spot immediately. An accident relief train (ART) was called from Allahabad which reached at the incident site along with engineers. The engine was put back on track after several hours.“An inquiry will be carried out by senior officials to ascertain the reason for the incident. Any action will be taken in this connection only after the investigation,” said station superintendent, Pratapgarh junction, KN Sharma.