Maiosts blast railway tracks in Bengal

JHARGRAM (WB): Suspected Maoists triggered a landmine blast on a railway track near Jhargram in West Midnapore district on Wednesday, injuring two drivers of a goods train and leaving the engine of the freight train damaged.

The attack came on the second day of the two-day five-state bandh called by the Maoists and disrupted train services on the Kharagpur-Tata Nagar section of South Eastern Railway.

The incident took place at Khatkhura halt station near here when the landmine detonated as soon as the engine of the goods train passed over it.

The engine and windshield of the train were damaged by the blast which left a two-feet deep crater at the spot. The driver and the assistant driver of the freight train were injured by shards of glass.

Police and railway officials said several rail sleepers were blown up and the overhead power cable cut on both tracks by the impact of the blast.

Rail services were halted in both tracks with several long-distance trains either diverted or stranded at various stations since 2 am.

Railway officials along with police and paramilitary forces have reached the spot and repair work has begun.

Several trains including Howrah-Puroshattampur Express were diverted and other trains such as Howrah-Tata Nagar Steel Express, UP and down Howrah-Hatia Express, Sambaleshwari Express and other local and passenger trains have been stranded at various stations.

Meanwhile, life has come to a standstill in Jungle Mahal areas of West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia districts with no traffic on the roads and shops and markets closed.