Muzaffarpur/Patna: Rail services in parts of north Bihar were disrupted early on Tuesday after a truck loaded on a military special train came into contact with railway overhead electrical equipment (OHE) near Maripur in Muzaffarpur district, causing a brief fire and damage to the power supply system.
According to railway officials, the incident occurred in the early hours while the military train was passing through the section on its way to Motihari. One of the trucks mounted on the train touched the overhead electrification line, resulting in sparks and a fire that damaged the OHE and led to a temporary suspension of electric traction on the route.
Soldiers travelling on the train quickly brought the situation under control using onboard fire extinguishers, preventing the fire from spreading. Officials said the damage was limited to the tarpaulin covering the truck and a few items on board, with no injuries reported and no major harm to the train itself.
Teams from the railway’s traction distribution (TRD) department, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and the Government Railway Police (GRP) reached the site soon after the incident. With the overhead power supply disrupted, the military special train was moved forward using a diesel locomotive.
The damage to the electrification system had a cascading effect on passenger services. The Muzaffarpur–Narkatiaganj Intercity and the Muzaffarpur–Raxaul MEMU were rescheduled at Muzaffarpur Junction, while the Katihar–Amritsar Amrapali Express was detained for about 18 minutes before being allowed to proceed. Several other trains in the Sonpur and Samastipur divisions ran behind schedule, leaving passengers stranded at stations in cold weather conditions.
Railway authorities said preliminary assessments suggest the incident may have been caused by a height or clearance issue involving the loaded truck, though a detailed inquiry is still underway. Officials urged passengers to remain patient while repair work continues.
Engineers from the TRD department are currently restoring the damaged OHE. Railways said normal operations would resume once the electrification system is fully repaired, adding that safety protocols for military and freight movements are also being reviewed to prevent similar incidents in the future.
