RailEnquiry

An afternoon of trauma awaited passengers as close to 46 trains halted on the tracks in Ranchi, Dhanbad and Chakradharpur divisions as the eastern grid collapsed around 1pm on Tuesday. While power supply to the railways resumed in Ranchi division at 3.15pm, helping stranded trains like Howrah-Ranchi Shatabdi Express, Baidyanath Dham Express and Jan Shatabdi Express move into the state capital, Dhanbad division trains were not so lucky as power restoration was only partial and local. Till power was restored, the Howrah-Ranchi Shatabdi Express remained stuck at Gangaghat ' a small station about 30km away from the capital. Patna-Hatia Jan Shatabdi stood between Kita and Gangaghat, Baidyanath Dham Express between Muri and Silli, Jammu-Tawi Rourkela Express at Muri and Dhanbad-Allepey Express in between Kotshila and Jhalda. "We could not understand why our train stopped near Gangaghat, a forested area. We panicked when we realised it was due to a power failure," said Soumita Banerjee, an executive of a private company, who finally reached Ranchi at 3.45pm. If passengers on stranded trains were unsure about when they would reach their destinations, at Ranchi, passengers waiting to board trains were also worried. "Soon after power was restored in our division at 3.15pm, we moved the stranded trains to Ranchi," said Sunil Kumar, additional divisional railway manager. In Dhanbad division, where nearly 20 trains were stranded at different places, power had been restored only partially by late evening. Railway officials were debating whether to move trains from deserted places to the nearest station. While New Delhi-Howrah Express was stranded at Hazaribagh Road, Jabalpur-Howrah Express was stuck at Nagar Uttari, Burdwan-Gomo passenger at Gomia, Hatia-Burdwan passenger at Chandrapura, Burdwan-Hatia passenger at Gomoh, Sindri-Dhanbad passenger at Rakshitpur and Gomo-Burdwan passenger at Jageshwar Vihar. "Power restoration is only partial. Hence, we have so far not sent the trains that are stranded at stations further or else they will get stuck at deserted places," said Dayanand, senior divisional commercial manager of Dhanbad division. Hatia-Anand Vihar Swarn Jayanti Express and Dhanbad-Hatia-Garbeta Express remained stranded in Ranchi. Vananchal Express, Hatia-Patna Express, Maurya Express, Hatia-Howrah Express were set for delays. "We are waiting for Vananchal Express for the last two hours. We are not sure whether we will be able to travel today," said Md. Saffique, a passenger who was to go to Pakur, as he waited at Ranchi station. His train was to leave at 3.10pm, but had not entered the platform even at 4pm. Officials, however, stated that no trains were being cancelled. In Chakradharpur division, Howrah-Titlagarh Ispat Express was the first to be stranded. The train arrived at Chakradharpur around 1.35pm and remained there for the next two-and-half-hours. Two other trains ' Santragachi-Nanded Huzur Sahib Express and Howrah-Mumbai Duronto Express were also stuck there till 3.50pm. The trains stranded at Tatanagar station included Tata-Dhanbad Subernarekha Express, Tata-Asansol Passenger and Tata-Jasidih Passenger.