The Hindu : Front Page : Maoists blast track, torch diesel tankers of goods train

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Maoists blast track, torch diesel tankers of goods train

K. Balchand

Fire brigades take more than five hours to extinguish the inferno

Goods train derails after explosion
Six trains cancelled, some diverted

PHOTO: PTI

RAMPAGE ON THE RAILS: Oil tankers of a goods train which were set on fire lie pell-mell in Motihari district of Bihar on Thursday. Earlier Maoists blasted the track, leading to the derailment.

NEW DELHI: Suspected Maoists on Thursday blew up the railway track in Bihar's Motihari district on the Muzaffarpur-Narkatiaganj section, leading to the derailment of a goods train. After the blast the rebels set afire one of the diesel tankers being hauled by the train.

At least 14 tankers were reduced to shells.

The driver and the guard acted quickly and detached the rear 33 diesel-laden tankers and the engine. Fire brigades from Motihari and Muzaffarpur took over five hours to extinguish the inferno.

The Railways estimated the loss at over Rs. 5 crore.

At least six trains were cancelled, while some long route trains bound for Howrah and Delhi were either regulated or diverted. Repair work has been speeded up for restoration of movement of trains on the section.

IANS reports:

The arson took place between the Jeevdhara and Pipra stations at Motihari, about 200 km from Patna.

“The driver and the guard informed us that Maoists set afire an oil tanker and the fire spread to other tankers,” East Central Railway Chief Public Relations Officer Dilip Kumar said over telephone.

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