Andhra Pradesh rains: Train services hit in Visakhapatnam

VISAKHAPATNAM: The waterlogging of railway tracks caused by torrential rains during the past few days between Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada has resulted in cancellation or diversion of various trains.

According to railway sources, Visakha Express and Bhubaneswar-Yeshvantpur Express have been cancelled today.

The Howrah-Yeshvantpur Express, Bhubaneswar-Bangalore Prasanthi Express, Howrah Vasco Amaravati Express and Puri-Okha Express trains were diverted via Vizianagaram, Raipur and Nagpur.

The Visakha Express, Garib Rath, Falaknuma Godavari Express scheduled to arrive this morning were stopped at various places between Samalkota and Visakhaptnam as the tracks were waterlogged.

The Elamancihili railway station in Visakhapatnam district was flooded with rain water.

Heavy rains have caused big loss to agricultural and horticulture crops in the district, sources said.

Out of the three women who were earlier washed away in flood waters, the body of one was recovered in Madugula mandal and efforts were on to trace the other two victims, they said.

According to official sources, heavy rains claimed three lives in Vizianagaram district.

Besides, many parts of Srikakulam town were also facing rain fury.

Srikakulam District Collector Saurabh Gaur reviewed the situation and deployed five teams to remove encroachments on the drains.

Official sources said that were no casualties in the district. However, 125 animals died due to heavy rains.

Apart from transportation being hit, the heavy rains have also brought power supply and communication services to a grinding halt in many areas of the north coastal districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam, the sources added. "On account of suspension of track on Khurda Road - Palasa - Vizianagaram section of East Coast Railway and between Bayyavaram-Narsingapalli stations in Vijayawada division due to overflowing of water on tracks, some trains are cancelled, partially cancelled, diverted or rescheduled," the South Central Railway said here today.

The trains cancelled include 12704 Secunderabad-Howrah Falaknuma Express scheduled to depart Secunderabad station here at 1600 hours tomorrow, 11019 Mumbai CST-Bhubaneswar Konark Express scheduled to depart Mumbai at 1510 hours today and 18495 Rameswaram-Bhubaneswar Express scheduled to depart Rameswaram at 0800 hours today, the release said.

Train No.17239 Guntur-Visakhapatnam Express departed 0800 hours is partially cancelled between Vijayawada - Visakhapatnam.

Train No.17229 Thiruvananthapuram-Hyderabad Sabari Express scheduled to depart Thiruvananthapuram at 0715 hours today is rescheduled to depart at 1630 hours.

Train No.12840 Chennai-Howrah Express scheduled to depart Chennai at 2340 hours yesterday is rescheduled to depart at 1430 hours today.

Train No.12842 Chennai-Howrah Express scheduled to depart Chennai at 0845 hours today is rescheduled to depart at 1900 hrs.

Train No.12510 Guwahati-Bangalore Express scheduled to depart Guwahati at 0630 hrs today is rescheduled to depart at 1500 hrs.

Train No.06335 Dibrugarh-Kochuvelli Special scheduled to depart Dibrugarh at 0015 hrs today is rescheduled to depart at 2245 hrs.