The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Train traffic hit as subabul stocks go up in flames

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Aug 05, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Train traffic hit as subabul stocks go up in flames

By Our Special Correspondent

ONGOLE, AUG. 4. In a major fire accident, about 5,000 tonnes of subabul stacked near Markapur railway station was reduced to ashes causing an estimated loss of Rs. 80 lakhs. Ten fire tenders tried for more than 12 hours to douse the flames, which disrupted train traffic in the Guntur-Guntakal section.

The district Collector, B. Udaya Lakshmi, and the Superintendent of Police, Mahesh Chandra Laddha, rushed to the accident spot and supervised relief arrangements. Three trains were detained at Giddalur and Markapur and special buses were arranged to take passengers to their destinations.

Track damaged

The West Coast paper mill in Karnataka had purchased the subabul and stacked it along the track for being transported to a mill when the accident occurred late last night. The railway track melted to an extent of half a kilometre.

Fire tenders from Giddalur and Ongole had a harrowing time on the spot due to scarcity of water. Bangalore-bound Prasanthi Express was detained at Cumbum and arrangements were made to take it back to Guntur.

Railway officials have already started track restoration work and they expect the track to be ready by tomorrow morning. Mr. Laddha said that cause of fire was not yet ascertained.

Trains rescheduled

Our Special Correspondent

from Hyderabad adds:

Some trains have been partially cancelled owing to the fire accident. Train no. 433 Yeswantpur- Guntakal passenger that left Yeswantpur on August 3 has been terminated at Tarlapadu station and it would run as train No. 303 passenger from Tarlapadu to Hubli, according to a press release from South Central Railway.

Train No. 7225 Vijayawada- Hubli Amaravathi Express scheduled to leave Vijayawada at 7.45 p.m. on Wednesday has been rescheduled to leave at 11.45 p.m. due to late running of the pairing train. Train No. 427 Guntakal - Guntur passenger will be terminated at Giddalur station and run as train no. 428 passenger as Giddalur- Guntakal. There will be a temporary regulation of train No. 524 Guntur- Kacheguda passenger at Donakonda.

In a separate press release, the SCR said some more trains had to be partially cancelled, due to breaches and landslide at Igatpuri on Central Railway. Train No. 1004 Nizamabad- Mumbai (CSTM) Devagiri Express scheduled to leave Nizamabad on Wednesday would be terminated at Aurangabad and it will run as train No. 1004 Devagiri Express after checking at Nanded/ Nizamabad.

Train No. 7606 Nanded- Mumbai (LTT) Nandigram Express scheduled to leave Nanded on Wednesday will be terminated at Aurangabad. It will run back as train No. 7605 Mumbai (LTT)- Nanded Express. Train No. 7688 Dharmabad- Manmad Express will be terminated at Nagarsol and will run back as train No. 7687 Manmad-Dharmabad Express.

Train No. 7618 Nanded- Mumbai (CSTM) Tapovan Express will be terminated at Aurangabad and will run as empty rake to pick up train No. 7688 Dharmabad - Manmad link express.

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