Uttar Pradesh: 15 wagons of coal-laden goods train derail on freight corridor in Etawah

KANPUR/LUCKNOW: Amid ongoing power crisis due to acute shortage of coal in various parts of the country, a coal-laden freight train derailed on the eastern dedicated freight corridor (DFC) in Etawah district on Saturday. The incident took place around 11.10am at New Ekdil station after which huge heaps of coal could be seen on the tracks. Railway track as well as 110 metres of OHE line also got damaged.
According to eastern DFC officials, a total of 15 wagons loaded with 832 tonnes of coal derailed.The long haul rake of 59 wagons was heading towards Kalanaur in Haryana.
As soon as the information of the accident was received, Bharthana police station in charge Krishan Lal Patel rushed to the spot and informed the railway control room. A technical team, including railway officials, rushed to the spot and launched an operation to restore the DFC rail route.
“Due to derailment, the up line towards Delhi was obstructed while the down line towards Kanpur is clear for operation. Work for restoration of the up line has started. Accident relief trains from Kanpur and Agra were dispatched for service,” said general manager, DFC (operations), Neeraj Verma said. The railway has decided to cancel 657 mail/express/passenger trains to ensure priority routes for coal wagons and faster turnaround. Total 533 coal rakes have been deployed. Railway project officer Pankaj Singh said several technical teams were trying to restore the DFC rail route at the earliest. Additional superintendent of police, rural, Satpal Singh said a police force had been deployed at the spot to prevent theft of coal. “About 110m of OHE line is broken and there were over 70 coaches in the goods train,” he said. Etawah district magistrate Shruti Singh said an investigation into the cause of the accident.