Thaindian News

Kolkata, Aug 1 (IANS) The rail link between West Bengal’s northern and southern parts was partially restored Monday afternoon while officials began a probe into the derailment of the Guwahati-Bangalore Express that had left one person dead and 35 others injured near Malda Sunday evening.

“Around 4 p.m., train movement was started after railwaymen worked at a frenetic pace to repair the up line and clear the debris between Gour Malda and Jamirghata stations where the accident had occurred,” said an Eastern Railway official.

The down line was expected to be operational by Monday night.

Meanwhile, Commissioner of Railway Safety (Eastern Circle) R.P. Yadav visited the accident spot to begin a probe into the incident.

Senior railway and police officers also went to the site and supervised the repair work.

Yadav will hold a two-day inquiry at the office of the divisional railway manager, Malda Town beginning Tuesday, an Eastern Railway release said.

A train carrying the stranded passengers of the Guwahati-Bangalore Express has left Malda for Bangalore.

Eastern Railway has also run a superfast Garib Rath special train from Kolkata to Guwahati this afternoon to clear the extra rush of passengers.

One person was killed and at least 35 people were injured when the engine and six coaches of the Bangalore-bound Guwahati-Bangalore Express derailed and were hit by the Azimganj-Malda Town passenger train coming from the opposite direction on the adjacent track.

Four coaches of the passenger train also ran off the tracks following the impact.

The accident occurred three weeks after 14 coaches of the Delhi-bound Howrah-Kalka express jumped the rails in Uttar Pradesh’s Fatehpur district, leaving 69 people dead and 249 others injured.