Train services severely disrupted due to floods in north Bengal

KOLKATA: Rail connectivity to north Bengal and the northeastern states got totally cut-off from West Bengal and other parts of the country on Sunday due to the flood situation there. Thousands of passengers were left in the lurch as nearly all trains running towards north Bengal and the northeastern states got cancelled or short-terminated at stations midway.This was due to inundation of tracks and breaches in embankments. Eastern Railway (ER) announced the cancellation of eight important trains including the Darjeeling Mail and Padatik Express that were scheduled to start from Sealdah on Sunday. Several trains, including the Darjeeling Mail and Padatik Express that left Sealdah on Saturday evening have been short-terminated.
With trains like the Kamrup Express, Kanchanjungha Express and Saraighat Express getting cancelled, the rail link to the northeastern states from West Bengal has also got cut-off, landing a lot of people in distress. Among the trains cancelled so far are the 15959 Up Howrah-Dibrugarh Kamrup Express, 13147 Up Sealdah-New Cooch Behar Uttar Banga Express, 13149 Up Sealdah-Alipurduar Kanchankanya Express, 12343 Up Sealdah-New Jalpaiguri Darjeeling Mail, 12377 Up Sealdah-New Alipurduar Padatik Express, 12517 Up Kolkata-Guwahati Garib Rath Express, 12345 Up Howrah-Guwahati Saraighat Express, 15659 Up Kanchanjungha Express and the 13141 Up Sealdah-New Alipurduar Teesta Torsa Express.
“Due to the flood situation in the Katihar Division of North East Frontier Railway (NFR), 12377 Up Padatik Express that left Sealdah on Saturday has been short terminated at Chatra station and will return to Sealdah as a passenger special train. The 12343 Up Darjeeling Mail that started from Sealdah on Saturday has also been short terminated at Murarai and will return to the Kolkata station as passenger special train. The 13147 Up Uttarbanga Express and 13149 Up Kanchankanya Express that left Sealdah on Saturday have been short terminated at Malda Town and are returning to Sealdah as passenger special trains. The 15721 Up Digha-New Jalpaiguri Paharia Express was short-terminated at Malda Town station and will return to Santragachhi as a passenger special train,” an ER spokesperson said.
Trains from the rest of India to the northeastern states (that run via north Bengal) have also been affected. Among these are the 12503 Up Bangalore Cant - Kamakhya Express which was detained at Bansloi Bridge station and the 14056 Delhi-Dibrugarh Brahmaputra Mail that was stopped at Sahibganj.
“Instructions have been given to all divisional railway managers to control trains at relatively larger stations and monitor the availability of adequate food, catering arrangements and drinking water for passengers. Instructions have also been given for cleaning and watering the compartments of the trains. There will also be adequate security arrangements,” said R N Mahapatra, CPRO, and ER.