Train services affected in SER after overhead wire snaps

Train services on the Howrah- Kharagpur section of the South Eastern Railway was affected after the overhead traction wire snapped between Haur and Radhamohanpur Halt stations this morning.

SER sources said the wires snapped when the Up Howrah-Puri Dhauli Express was passing between the two stations at 7.30 AM. The train was later towed to Kharagpur with a diesel engine.

The Howrah-Borbil Janshatabdi Express, which was running behind the Dhauli Express, was also stopped and towed to Kharagpur with a diesel engine, they said.

The reason for the snapping of the wire was not immediately clear, the sources said.

As a result, eight long-distance trains, including the Howrah-Mumbai Duronto Express, Howrah-Titlagarh Ispat Express, the Howrah-Secundrabad Falaknama Express, Shalimar- Santaldih Aranyak Express and the Shalimar-Bankura Rajya Rani Express, were stopped at various stations. While seven EMU locals have been cancelled, five were short-terminated, the sources said. While traffic was being maintained in the Down line, the Up line was expected to be restored by this afternoon. Rail traffic in the SER's Kharagpur-Bhubaneswar line remained affected for several hours yesterday after a truck hit a level crossing pole and snapped the overhead traction at Lakshmannathpur station.