The traffic on Kothavalasa – Kirandul (K-K) railway line, the lifeline for people of Jagdalpur and for movement of iron ore, has come to a grinding halt as boulders fell on the track on the Jarti-Malliguda section in the early hours of Monday.
A total of 76 passengers, who were travelling by the Durg – Jagadalpur express, were stranded on the track as the train had to stop as there were boulders on the track. The railway authorities arranged special buses and 40 passengers were sent back to Jeypore and Koraput and 36 passengers were sent to Jagdalpur.
The railway authorities also arranged food and water for the stranded passengers.
“Initially, the boulders fell at two or three places but before the restoration work could begin more boulders fell at around 10 different places in the section. The track has also been washed off at a few places between Koraput and Jeypore in Odisha. The restoration work has begun and we hope to complete it in a couple of days,” Senior Divisional Commercial Manager of Waltair Division M. Yelvender Yadav said on Monday evening.
Trains cancelledTrain no.18006 Jagdalpur-Howrah-Samleswari Express leaving Jagdalpur on July 28 has been cancelled. Train no. 18005 Howrah-Jagdalpur-Samleswari on July 28 will be short-terminated at Titlagarh and return as 18006.
Train no. 18447/18448 Bhubaneswar-Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Express has been cancelled between Koraput and Jagdalpur. However, the trains will run from Koraput with regular scheduled timings.
Train no. 58501 Visakhapatnam – Kirandul Passenger will run up to Koraput and return as 58502 and train no. Trian no. 18212 Jagdalpur – Durg Express has been cancelled on July 28, according to statement issued by the East Coast Railway (E Co R).
