Guwahati: Twelve oil tankers of a goods
train were charred and four others derailed due to a blast
allegedly triggered by ULFA militants near Moriani in Assam`s
Jorhat district, disrupting train services on the section.
Each tanker was carrying 70,000 litres of high speed
diesel valued at about 25 lakh each, Numaligarh Refinery Ltd
sources said.
The fire in the tankers broke out when the train was
coming from Numaligarh refinery to Panki in Uttar Pradesh at
about 9.30 pm Monday night.
"ULFA militants caused the sabotage. Forty metre of
flexible wire was recovered from the area leading to the
tracks. Investigations have begun and a clear picture will
emerge soon," GRP sources said.
The fire was contained after 12 hours at about 9.30 am
today, Northeast Frontier railway sources said.
The guard and driver of the freight train carrying 51
tankers were safe, officials said.
Sources said the driver of the train heard a blast and
saw plumes of smoke billowing out of the tankers. Some of the
tankers derailed and fell on other tracks, sources said.
NF railway officials said they have been able to save
31 tankers, two safety tankers and the brake-van.
A total of 16 tankers have been affected. While 12 of
them were charred, four others derailed with oil leaking from
three of them. A small bridge was also damaged in the
incident.
Fire tenders were brought in from Army, police, fire
brigade and nearby industries.
The nature of the fire is such that fire officials
will have to wait for the fuel to be burnt out.
Train services have been disrupted in upper and lower
Assam as the main track has been blocked, officials said. The
UP and DOWN Dibrugarh-New Delhi Rajdhani Express are among the
trains disrupted by the fire.
Senior Railway officials have rushed to the spot at a
place between Barpathar and Bhirgaon and are making
arrangements to clear the tracks.
"More than 300 metre rail track was damaged as the
goods train derailed, toppling the tankers. The restoration
work was affected due to extreme heat in the area and it will
take 6-7 hours," A NFR spokesperson said.
Services of both the UP and DOWN Dibrugarh Rajdhani
Expresses were disrupted. The Dibrugarh-bound Rajdhani Express
has been stopped at Moriani station and the passengers would
be taken to Simoluguri station in Jorhat district by road.
From Simoluguri, they will be taken to Dibrugarh by
the Rajdhani Express coming from Dibruragh, railway officials
said.
The passengers of New Delhi-Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express
stopped at Simoluguri will be brought to Moriani by road. They
would start their onward journey to New Delhi by
Dibrugarh-bound Rajdhani Express stopped there.
"Brahmaputra Express and Kamrup Express were
short-terminated at Dimapur in Nagaland and they will start
from here today, NF railway sources said.
Dibrugarh-Amritsar Express was cancelled and 2067
Janshatabdi Express was short-terminated in Dimapur. All local
passenger trains have also been cancelled, NF railway sources
said.
Bureau Report
