Bhubaneswar: A special train was deployed to transport passengers stranded at Nergundi Junction in Cuttack district after the derailment of the Bengaluru-Kamakhya AC Superfast Express on Sunday.
The East Coast Railway (ECoR) promptly organized this service to ensure the affected passengers could continue their journey to their respective destinations.
According to an official press release, ECoR confirmed that Accident Relief and Medical Relief Trains were dispatched immediately to the derailment site. These trains were stationed to ensure the safety of passengers and assist in restoration operations. Additionally, passengers detained at the site were provided with drinking water, snacks, and food packets to ease their distress.
Upon receiving the information, the General Manager (GM) of East Coast Railway and the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of Khurda Road, along with other senior railway officials, rushed to the site to oversee the situation and coordinate relief operations.
The passengers traveling on the 12551 Bengaluru-Kamakhya AC Superfast Express were stranded after 11 coaches of the train derailed at Nergundi Junction at around 11:54 am on Sunday.
“Only eight injured persons required referral to the hospital and have been transferred to SCB Medical. One person has died in the incident. Eyewitnesses stated that when the train began derailing, the man jumped from the train, which led to his death. This will be investigated by the police,” said Dattatraya Bhausaheb Shinde, the Cuttack District Magistrate, while speaking to the media.
The official press release also provided helpline numbers for passenger assistance:
- Bhubaneswar: 7205149591, 8455885999
- Cuttack: 8991124238
- Khurda Road: 06742492245
- Bhubaneswar: 8114382371
- Bhadrak: 9437443469
- Palasa: 9237105480
- Jajpur Keonjhar Road: 9124639558
Train Service Diversions
To minimize disruption to regular train services, the following down trains from Bhubaneswar to Bhadrak will be diverted via Barang-Nergundi-Kapilas Road, replacing the usual Cuttack-Kendrapara Road-Nergundi route:
- 12822 Puri-Howrah Dhauli Express
- 12875 Puri-Anand Vihar Neelachal Express
- 22606 Tirunelveli-Purulia Express
- 12704 Secunderabad-Howrah Falaknuma Express
- 12513 Secunderabad-Silchar Express
ECoR has assured that further updates will be provided as the situation develops.