Rajdhani derails after Maoists blast track, traffic disrupted

PATNA - The Bhubaneswar-New Delhi Rajdhani Express derailed after Maoists blasted a railway track in Bihar\’s Gaya district, leading to three trains being cancelled and 17 being diverted, police said Tuesday.

The incident occurred late Monday and no injuries have been reported.

According to police sources, eight wagons, including the engine, of the Rajdhani Express derailed between Paraiya and Kastha railway station in Gaya-Mughalsarai section of East Central Railways, about 100 km from here.

\”Eight bogies, including the engine, were derailed after Maoists blew up three to four feet of railway track during their 48-hour shutdown in seven states to protest against operation Green Hunt,\” Inspector General of Police S.K. Bhardawaj told IANS over the phone from the accident site.

Repair and restoration work is underway. It will take another few hours before traffic resumes, railway sources said.

A medical and engineering team are camping at the derailment site.

According to railway sources, three trains, including the Patna-Ranchi Janshatabdi, Gaya-Dehri On Sone and Patna-Dehri On Sone were cancelled because of the incident.

Furthermore, the routes of 17 trains, including the New Delhi-Howrah Rajdhani express, were diverted from Mughalsarai to Patna instead of Gaya for its onward journey.

Police suspect Maoists were behind the incident after they recovered a pamphlet left by the rebels, claiming responsibility for the