Title - Grid collapse again hits train movement

ALLAHABAD: The movement of trains was once again paralysed in the North Central Railway region following the Northern Grid and Eastern Grid collapse at 1pm on Tuesday. The trains were stranded at different places in the NCR region due to power tripping in the overhead OHE (Over Head Equipments) lines which supply electricity to the electrical engines. About 30 to 40 trains passing through Allahabad junction were affected.

The worst hit was the Allahabad division of NCR extending from Ghaziabad to Mughalsarai. The trains running at different places were stranded as the power supplying electricity to OHE. Agra division was also affected but power was restored upto Baad. However, the Jhansi division of NCR took power from Madhya Pradesh to mitigate the effect of the collapse of Northern Grid.

The trains whose movement was hit included train number 3111 Lal Quila Express, train number 12487 Seemanchal Express, train number 12312 Kalka Mail, train number 18102 Muri Express, train number 2349 Bhagalpur-New Delhi Express, train number 12877 Gharib Rath Express, train number 13007 Toofan Express and train number 12419 Gomti Express.

Power was gradually restored in the Allahabad division of NCR. Firstly, power was restored in the Phaphund-Chakeri section at 2:50pm followed by Rura-Pata section at 2:55pm. Power was also restored in the Dadri-Chapiana section at 3:45pm. Power was being restored in the Ghaziabad-Kanpur section till the filing of the report. However, trains in the Allahabad-Mughalsrai section were still stranded.

Diesel engines were sent to bring the trains near the main station. Jogbani Express, which was stranded between Allahabad and Naini junction, was brought to Allahabad junction with the help of a diesel engine.

The main brunt of the collapse of the power grid fell on the passengers traveling in the trains. As the trains were stranded at different locations, the passengers were unable to get food and necessary items.

This is the second time when the power failure happened on the second consecutive day. Passengers thronged the enquiry counters at the Allahabad junction to seek latest updates about the movement of the trains. Even the enquiry personnel were unable to give the latest position as the trains were stranded at different places.

Most of the passengers complained about not getting the latest position about the trains. Manish Kumar, who had to leave for Aligarh, rued that he was unable to get the position of Lal Quila Express. "If I had got prior information about the late running of the trains, then I would not have come earlier to Allahabad from Pratapgarh," he said.