Pilot engine of Rajdhani Express derails after Maoists explode rail track
The advance pilot engine running ahead of Bhubaneshwar-New Delhi Rajdhani Express jumped off the track due to the blast
Aurangabad, Bihar: Maoists blasted a portion of a railway track between Ismailpur and Rafiganj section in Bihar, leading to derailment of a pilot engine running ahead of the Bhubaneshwar-New Delhi Rajdhani Express.
No casualty was reported in the blast that took place late last night, Deputy Inspector General of Police (Magadh range) P.K. Shrivastava told PTI. In Patna, chief public relations officer, East Central Railway, Arvind Kumar Rajak said the advance pilot engine running ahead of Bhubaneshwar-New Delhi Rajdhani Express jumped off the track due to the incident.
Nearly one dozen mail and Express trains including three Rajdhani Express trains have been stranded at various places between Gaya and Mughalsarai due to the incident, Rajak said.
The blast was triggered during a one-day bandh called by the Maoists against police firing in Aurangabad and Rohtas districts. The chief public relations officer said that nearly three metre of the track has been damaged in the blast. Electric wire overhead has also been damaged, he said. The DIG said that the blast appears to be a powerful one creating a four-feet deep crater.
Howrah-New Delhi Rajdhani Express, Bhubaneshwar-New Delhi Rajdhani Express, Sealdah-New Delhi Rajdhani Express, Jodhpur-Howrah Express and Doon Express were among the major trains stranded at various places.
The blast took place at Lahat village under Rafiganj police station of Aurangabad district at around 11:30pm on Tuesday.
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