IED blast on track derailed Guwahati-Puri express: Railways

The blast, caused by an improvised explosive device (IED), completely damaged 200 metres of track and fuse wire and detonators were also found, North East Frontier Railway's Rangiya Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) A K Manocha told PTI.

Manocha said seven bogies of the train carrying 700 passengers derailed with two coaches falling into a pond.

Earlier, it was stated that eight coaches had derailed.The DRM said that 40 passengers were seriously injured and admitted to Guwahati Medical College Hospital.

The Railways would make ex-gratia payment to those with both major and minor injuries though the amount was yet to be decided, he said.

A senior police officer earlier said that the blast appeared to be the handiwork of the Ranjan Daimary-led National Democratic Front of Bodoland's anti-talk faction, which is active in the area.

Manocha said that 300 workers were working since last night with the tracks likely to be restored by 8:00 pm tonight. After repair of the tracks, a recovery van from Bongaigaon would lift the derailed bogies from the tracks.

The total loss incurred by the blast was estimated to be between Rs 75 to Rs 80 lakhs, he said.

A special train with 800 passengers of the Guwahati-Puri Express left Guwahati for Puri at 5:30 this morning.Meanwhile, train services on the section have been affected with several trains diverted or cancelled.

The trains that have been cancelled were the Manas Rhino Express, Guwahati-Bongaigaon Express, Alipurduar-Kamakhya Intercity Express, Lumding-Alipurduar Express, Siphung Express and New Bongaigaon Passenger.