A major derailment of a goods train in Bihar's Jamui district on Sunday brought one of eastern India's most vital rail corridors to a grinding halt, leaving thousands of passengers stranded in the cold and triggering massive cancellations and diversions.
Chaos on the Tracks: The Incident and Immediate Impact
The crisis began when eight wagons of a goods train jumped the rails near the Telwa Bazar Halt station, located between Lahabon and Simultala. This section is part of the busy Jasidih-Jhajha stretch under the Asansol division of the Eastern Railway. The derailment resulted in a complete blockade of both the Up and Down lines on the pivotal Howrah-Patna-Delhi route, severing a critical transportation artery.
The sudden stoppage of all rail traffic threw travel plans into complete disarray. Passengers, including elderly individuals and women travelling with young children, were forced to spend hours waiting at various stations across Bihar and West Bengal amid chilly weather conditions. Many expressed frustration over the lack of timely updates and basic amenities, which heightened their anxiety as trains remained stationary indefinitely.
Passenger Ordeal and Official Response
"I was travelling with my wife and two children. I had no idea how long the wait would be. The cold made it even more difficult due to the inordinate delay of the Jasidih-Pune Express," shared Rakesh Kumar Sinha, who was stranded at Gaya Junction. Another stranded traveller, Rita Pandey, recounted the severe inconvenience faced by her family due to prolonged delays while waiting to board the Howrah-Raxaul Express at Barauni Junction.
Eastern Railway's Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO), Shibram Manjhi, confirmed the severity of the disruption. He stated that the derailment had a major impact on operations, forcing the railways to cancel, divert, terminate, or short-terminate several passenger trains bound for Bihar on Sunday.
Scale of Disruption and Restoration Efforts
The railway administration released detailed data on the cascading effects of the accident:
- 12 passenger trains were cancelled outright. These included key services like the Howrah-Dehradun Kumbh Express, Sealdah-Ballia Express, and several MEMU (Mainline Electric Multiple Unit) trains connecting Jasidih, Jhajha, Mokama, Deoghar, and Patna.
- 60 trains were diverted via alternative routes to maintain limited connectivity. This included 33 down-line and 27 up-line trains. Major diversions were routed via Pradhankhunta-Dhanbad-Gaya-Patna and Maheshmunda-Koderma-Gaya-DDU. Notably, the premium Howrah-Patna Vande Bharat Express was diverted through Pradhankhunta-Dhanbad-Gaya-Patna.
- At least three trains were terminated before their final destination, and an equal number were short-terminated. For instance, the Patna-Jasidih passenger and Patna-Deoghar MEMU were both short-terminated at Jhajha.
CPRO Manjhi assured that restoration work began immediately after the accident. Specialized cranes and technical teams from accident relief trains were rushed to the site from Asansol, Madhupur, and Jhajha. The operation to clear the derailed wagons and repair the damaged tracks is being carried out under the direct supervision of Eastern Railway General Manager Milind Deouskar, with the aim of restoring normalcy at the earliest.
