In an unfortunate incident on Monday, a freight train carrying limestone derailed near Mendhapali in Odisha’s Bargarh district. The train, en route to Bargarh from Dunguri, experienced the derailment, with five bogies veering off the tracks.
The mishap occurred on a private narrow gauge rail line inside a private siding owned and operated by a cement company. The maintenance and operations of this siding, including the rolling stock, engines, wagons, and train tracks, are independent of the Indian Railway system.
Authorities swiftly responded to the scene, with local police launching an investigation into the incident. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported thus far.
The private narrow gauge rail line connects Dungri Limestone Mines and the Cement Plant of ACC Bargarh. The East Coast Railway clarified that the entire infrastructure associated with this rail line, including the rolling stock, engines, wagons, and train tracks, falls under the purview of the private cement company. It emphasized that there is no connection between this rail line and the Indian railway system.
The East Coast Railway issued a statement asserting, “Some wagons of a goods train operated by a private cement factory derailed inside the factory premises near Mendhapali of Bargarh district in Odisha. There is no role of Railways in this matter. This is completely a narrow gauge siding of a private cement company. All the infrastructure, including rolling stock, engines, wagons, train tracks (narrow gauge), are being maintained by the company.”
Efforts are currently underway to assess the extent of the damage caused by the derailment and initiate appropriate measures to restore normalcy. The private cement company is expected to coordinate with relevant authorities to address the situation and ensure the safe removal of the derailed wagons.
Derailed trains pose significant challenges, requiring careful planning and execution for their recovery and the resumption of normal operations. With the authorities actively investigating the incident, it is anticipated that necessary actions will be taken to prevent such incidents in the future and ensure the safety of the private narrow gauge rail line.
As the investigation progresses, updates will be provided regarding the causes behind the derailment and any subsequent actions that may be undertaken to prevent similar occurrences.
Sources by Agencies
