Train services hit in Bengal as soil erosion damages tracks after heavy rain

Kolkata: Train services were affected in the Eastern Railway's Howrah-Malda division in West Bengal on Thursday after soil under the railway tracks in a stretch eroded due to heavy rain, an official said.

A portion of the railway tracks between Tilpara and New Farakka developed a problem due to soil erosion around 2 am, affecting train movement between north and south Bengal, he said.

The up train line had a problem during the night, causing delays in several trains, he said.


North Bengal-bound trains have been diverted through a bypass line since morning. Down train movement towards New Farakka remains normal, the official said.

Senior railway officials and maintenance teams rushed to the spot after receiving the information, and repair work was taken up on a war footing, the official said.

Engineers suspect that the soil beneath the railway tracks became soft due to incessant rain over the past few days, resulting in the subsidence, the railway sources said.

The disruption affected the movement of several trains connecting north and south Bengal. Long-distance trains such as the Jogbani Express, Gour Express and Darjeeling Mail are running late.