Signal failure caused mayhem in the Dumdum junction of Eastern Railway's Sealdah Main/North section tonight with two locals coming on the same track from opposite sides while running of other trains got delayed for hours.
GRP officials said the Ranaghat-Majherhat Local and Dankuni-Sealdah Local came on the same track at platform no 4 as the automated signal developed snag at around 7 pm but the trains were halted some distance away from each other.
However, eyewitnesses claimed the two trains almost came face to face.
ER sources, however, maintained there was no such coming on the same track and the two trains were among couple of other locals whose running was affected for hours due to the development.
Meanwhile, irate commuters tonight ransacked the station master's cabin and damaged the engine of long distance Hate Bazare Express at the junction station.
GRP officials said with local trains stuck in both up and down sections of the Sealdah Main and Sealdah-Bongaon line since 7 pm, a section of home-bound office commuters turned unruly.
They ransacked the station master's cabin and hurled stones directed to the engine of Hate Bazare Express which was stranded at one platform smashing some glasses, the officials said.
Train services resumed slowly by 10 pm with the restoration of the signal but a strong GRP force was keeping vigil at the station with commuters still waiting for train. The incident followed yesterday's and August 17 disruption and brickbatting between two groups of passengers over converting three bogies of Matribhumi Ladies Special into general compartment which was opposed by women commuters.
