Patna: Train operations in the Danapur division of Indian Railways were severely disrupted on Wednesday evening after a storm caused a tree to fall onto overhead electric (OHE) wires, halting services on a key route.
The incident occurred between Bihta and Kulharia stations at around 6.40pm, when strong winds uprooted a tree that crashed onto the electrified lines, cutting off power supply.
Trains Stranded Mid-Route
Several trains, including the Rajdhani Express and Sampark Kranti Express, were halted due to the disruption.
The Tejas Rajdhani Express remained stranded at Phulwari Sharif, while the Sampark Kranti Express was held at Patna Junction for over an hour.
A dozen other trains, including passenger services between Fatuha and Buxar, were also stopped at various stations.
Restoration Efforts
Railway officials imposed a traffic block on both the up and down lines until around 9pm.
A technical team from the Danapur division reached the site and began clearing the fallen tree before repairing the damaged OHE infrastructure.
Train operations resumed after about 90 minutes of restoration work, with the Garib Rath Express departing from Ara towards Kolkata at 8.22pm.
Passenger Inconvenience
Passengers faced delays ranging from one to two hours as services gradually returned to normal.
Railway authorities said swift action helped restore operations and minimise disruption, though the incident highlighted the vulnerability of rail infrastructure during severe weather conditions.
