Goods Train Derails in Bihar's Katihar, Disrupts Operations on Down Line for Hours
A rail accident occurred in Katihar, Bihar, on Thursday night. A goods train, traveling from New Jalpaiguri to Katihar, derailed between the Sudhani-Barsoi stations. One of the train's wagons went off the tracks, with four wheels slipping off. Upon receiving the news, several officials from Katihar Railway's engineering department rushed to the site and initiated relief and rescue operations. As a result, operations on one line were halted for hours.
Officers from the commerce, operations, and engineering departments arrived at the scene and expedited efforts to restore the derailed wagon. Senior DCM of Katihar Rail Division, Dheeraj Chandra Kalita, confirmed the incident, stating that a wagon's four wheels had derailed. Efforts to re-rail the wagon were in full swing, and train services on the down line remained disrupted until late night.
Officials anticipated that it would take about three hours to restore normalcy. By late night, the operations on both up and down lines had resumed smoothly.
There were no casualties reported in the incident. As soon as the goods train's four wagons derailed, traffic was disrupted. An accident relief train from Katihar headquarters was dispatched to the scene to clear the route. The routes of other goods trains on the line were temporarily diverted.
The derailment occurred on the Barsoi-Sudhani rail section, where four wagons of the goods train derailed near Sudhani station. The train was empty and heading towards Katihar. While the cause of the derailment remains unclear, the incident severely affected the operation of goods trains heading towards New Jalpaiguri.
Railway authorities have ordered an investigation into the accident. Katihar Divisional Railway Manager Surendra Kumar confirmed that no casualties were reported, and an accident relief train was promptly dispatched to the site, accompanied by a team of officials to investigate the matter further.
"A total of four wagons of the goods train have derailed, but there are no casualties on the goods line. An accident relief train has been dispatched, and the investigation is underway," said Surendra Kumar, Katihar Railway Division Manager.