A severe thunderstorm accompanied by lightning caused significant disruption to train operations across several key routes under the Danapur division of the East Central Railway (ECR) on Friday morning. The adverse weather conditions, which included heavy rain, strong winds, and lightning, adversely affected overhead electric (OHE) wires and signalling systems at multiple locations, leading to temporary halts for numerous passenger trains.
Impact on Major Trains
The Patna–Howrah Vande Bharat Express was among the most affected services, being detained for approximately two hours at Patna Sahib station. The train was halted from 8:15 am to 10:19 am due to weather-related technical disruptions. Similarly, the Rajgir–New Delhi Shramjeevi Express and several other passenger trains experienced delays at the same station as railway authorities prioritized safety measures.
Disruptions on Key Routes
Train services were also severely impacted near Kuchman station on the DDU–Patna main line after lightning damaged the OHE infrastructure. The Anand Vihar–Danapur Jan Sadharan Express, along with some local passenger trains, was detained in that section. Temporary disruptions were additionally reported at Parsa Bazar on the Patna–Gaya and Kiul–Gaya routes, further complicating travel for passengers.
Restoration Efforts
Danapur senior divisional commercial manager (DCM) Abhinav Siddarth confirmed that railway safety and engineering teams were immediately deployed to the affected sites to carry out repairs and restore normal operations. Restoration work was undertaken on a war footing to ensure early resumption of services. Officials emphasized that all decisions regarding train detention and movement were made strictly in the interest of passenger safety during the two-to-three-hour spell of severe weather.
Gradual Resumption of Services
Following emergency repair work, train services were gradually being restored. The railway administration assured passengers that normalcy would return as soon as possible, with teams working tirelessly to fix the damaged infrastructure. The incident highlights the vulnerability of railway operations to extreme weather events and the importance of robust contingency plans.
Passengers are advised to check with railway authorities for real-time updates on train schedules and potential delays. The Danapur division continues to monitor the situation closely and take necessary actions to minimize inconvenience.
