Ranchi, Aug 16 (IANS) A major rail accident was narrowly averted in the early hours of Sunday on the Silli-Bokaro railway section in Jharkhand after a coach of the Shravani Mela Special train, travelling towards Madhupur, suddenly derailed, officials said.

A large number of Kanwariyas were travelling on the train when the incident occurred. All passengers aboard the train were reported to be safe, with no casualties reported in the derailment, according to the officials.

The railway officials stated that Train No. 08895, the Madhupur Shravani Mela Special, was proceeding towards Madhupur at around 2:30 a.m. on Sunday when its third coach from the engine suddenly went off the tracks near pole number 354/SA4.

The sudden derailment brought the train to an abrupt halt with a loud noise, briefly triggering panic among the passengers travelling on board.

Soon after receiving information about the incident, railway officials, along with teams of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP), rushed to the spot to assess the situation and begin relief operations.

A technical team was also deployed at the site and immediately started rescue and restoration work. The derailed coach was subsequently brought safely back onto the railway tracks.

However, railway authorities decided not to allow the coach to continue the remaining part of its journey as a precautionary measure.

For safety purposes, the affected coach was stationed at the Muri yard, while the Kanwariyas travelling in it were safely evacuated.

The derailment, however, disrupted rail traffic on the section for some time, leading railway authorities to alter the routes of several trains operating through the affected stretch.

The railway’s technical team simultaneously began repair and restoration work on the damaged portion of the track.

After sustained efforts by railway staff and technical personnel, the repair work on the affected track was completed at approximately 5:15 a.m. on Sunday.

Following the completion of the restoration work, train operations on the Bokaro section resumed, and normal rail movement was gradually restored.

Railway authorities have initiated an investigation into the incident to establish the exact cause of the derailment and determine the circumstances that led to the coach going off the tracks.

Officials are examining the condition of the track and other technical aspects as part of the inquiry.

Further details are awaited.

–IANS

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