Kolkata, Dec 31 (IANS) Passengers of New Delhi-Puri Purushottam Express had a narrow escape as suspected Maoists damaged railway tracks at two different places in West Bengal’s West Midnapore district Wednesday, throwing train services haywire.
Suspected Maoist ultras cut the connectors between two tracks and tried to bend the line between Jhargram and Khatkula stations, short while before the New Delhi-Puri Purushottam Express was to cross the affected 400 metre stretch.

A possible accident was averted after the gangmen spotted the miscreants trying to bend the line and informed the railway authorities immediately, a south eastern railway spokesman said. The train was stopped.

Late at night, members of a Maoist-backed tribal body People’s Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCAPA) stalled train movement by putting stonechips and removed fishplates and ballasts of railway tracks at Bhalkunia close to Midnapore town.

Several mail and express trains have been stranded at various stations, said Additional Director General of police (Railways) Dilip Mitra.

“They (the ultras) have removed fishplates and ballast and put stonechips. My force has reached the spot,” Mitra told IANS.

He said the miscreants have all fled the area.

“There is now no one there. The bomb disposal squad is on its way. Once the lines are cleared and track repair work is done, train movement will resume,” he said.