Railway Restoration Underway After Gonda Derailment, Resumption Expected by Evening

Approximately 800 railway workers are tirelessly restoring the tracks after the Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express derailed near Gonda. High-level inquiries are underway. Train services are operating on diverted routes, and the up-line is expected to resume by the evening. Sadly, three people lost their lives, and around 30 were injured in the accident.

Approximately 800 railway workers are tirelessly engaged in restoring the tracks following the derailment of the Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express in Gonda, said North-Eastern Railway's Divisional Manager, Aditya Kumar, on Friday. “We are likely to complete the work by this evening, and the upline will be back in operation,” Kumar noted.

Adding to this, CPRO of Northeast Railway, Pankaj Kumar Singh, stated, “The derailed coaches on the downline have been cleared. With over 800 personnel and numerous machines working at a brisk pace, we will soon restore train operations. Unfortunately, the accident resulted in three fatalities, and efforts are ongoing to divert trains efficiently.”

General Manager of North Eastern Railways, Saumya Mathur, echoed similar sentiments, reassuring that the restoration work is progressing. “Checks are being conducted, and full operational status on the upline is expected within a few hours. The entire section is likely to be fully restored by this evening,” Mathur said to ANI.

The accident, which occurred near Gonda station between Motiganj and Jhilahi, resulted in the cancellation of multiple special trains scheduled for July 19, 2024. A high-level inquiry, in addition to the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) probe, has been ordered. Medical teams and senior officials from the Lucknow NER division were dispatched to the site immediately.