Major Train Accident Averted as Chennai-NJP Express Derails in Odisha
A potentially catastrophic railway accident was narrowly avoided on Thursday morning when three coaches of the Chennai–New Jalpaiguri Express (Train No. 22611) derailed near Jakhapura railway station in Odisha's Jajpur district. According to official sources from the East Coast Railway (ECoR), the incident occurred at 8:51 AM while the train was passing through the Jakhapura yard area.
Details of the Derailment Incident
The derailment involved one air-conditioned coach and two general coaches within the yard limits. Fortunately, no passengers were injured and there was no loss of life in what could have been a major tragedy. Railway officials confirmed that the train was moving at a very low speed at the time of the incident, which prevented more serious consequences.
"No passenger was injured and there was no loss of life," stated an official ECoR release. "Passengers from the affected coaches were suitably accommodated in other coaches of the train. The derailed coaches were detached from the train before it departed the spot at 10:55 AM."
Swift Response and Restoration Efforts
Railway authorities responded promptly to the emergency:
- Accident relief trains (ART) were dispatched from both Bhubaneswar and Khurda Road stations
- Accident Relief Medical Equipment (ARME) was sent from Khurda Road to the site
- Senior railway officials reached the location to supervise restoration work and safety activities
- Local police, Railway Protection Force (RPF), and technical staff immediately assessed the situation
Deepak Rout, Chief Public Relations Officer of ECoR, explained: "We accommodated passengers of the three affected coaches in other coaches of the train. We added extra coaches to the train at Balasore to accommodate the passengers of the affected coaches."
Impact on Railway Operations
The derailment caused significant disruption to train schedules in the region:
- At least six major trains experienced delays, including the Berhampur–Tatanagar Vande Bharat Express
- The Bhubaneswar–New Delhi Rajdhani Express was affected
- The Tiruchirappalli–New Jalpaiguri Amrit Bharat Express faced schedule disruptions
Railway services returned to normal after the Chennai–New Jalpaiguri Express left the site. Officials confirmed that the rail line itself was not damaged in the incident.
Passenger Accounts and Safety Measures
Priyajit Mandal, a passenger from West Bengal who was aboard the train, described the moment of derailment: "As the train was moving at a very low speed, no major problem occurred. The affected general coach trembled when the derailment occurred. The train bogies just went off-track, but it did not roll. Otherwise, a big accident would have happened."
Following the incident, railway authorities released a helpline number for passengers and their families to seek information and assistance. Senior officials of ECoR have initiated an inquiry into the matter, though the exact cause of the derailment remains under investigation and has not yet been determined.
The efficient response by railway authorities, combined with the train's low speed at the time of the incident, prevented what could have been a major disaster on one of India's important railway routes connecting southern and northeastern regions of the country.
