Steel Superfast Exp had a close shave as Rail track develop cracks near Galudih on SER

Steel Superfast Exp had a close shave as Rail track develop cracks near Galudih on SER

Galudih (GUD): A major train mishap was averted when the Howrah-bound Steel Superfast Express had a close shave on Tuesday as a crack developed on the railway track at Galudih in Salgajhuri-Ghatshila section of South Eastern Railway’s (SER), about 45 km away from here.

The superfast train, an important lifeline which connects the Steel City with Howrah was running at a very high speed when the engineering department staff of Railways were patrolling displayed a red flag after a gangman noticed the crack to stop the train. Sources went on to inform that after the track, the fish-plate near the cracked portion of the track had also got dismantled. The superfast train was made to halt for about an hour before it resumed its onward journey.

The train resumed journey after senior railway officials of the Kharagpur division reached the spot. The engineering department staff immediately replaced the damaged track. The Steel Superfast Express leaves Tatanagar at 6.15 am. On its return journey, it leaves Howrah at 5.30 pm and reaches Tatanagar at 9.40 pm. It comprises 22 coaches.

A senior official of Kharagpur division said that the crack on the track developed due to contraction and expansion. “The patrolling staff had raised an alert. They acted fast and informed us and this helped us in saving a major mishap ,” he said Meanwhile, train services remained disrupted for about an hour between Tatanagar and Kharagpur section due to the crack on the railway track.

The Tatanagar station assumes importance in view because it is located on the Howrah-Mumbai main route. Several important trains travel via Tatanagar, including the high-profile Rajdhani Express and Duronto Express. The station sees a daily traffic of 90 mail, express and passenger trains, besides a footfall of more than 60,000 passengers.