2 injured as train derails near Bhalki

At least two persons were injured when the Aurangabad-Hyderabad passenger train derailed near Kalagapur in Bhalki taluk in the early hours of Friday.

The engine went off the track soon after crossing the bridge across River Manjra. By the time the driver brought the train to a halt, four bogies had derailed. Two of the passengers who jumped from the bogies in panic, sustained injuries.

They were treated at a hospital in Bhalki and discharged. The Railways authorities shifted the stranded passengers to taluk and district centres by 15 KSRTC buses. South Central Railway General Manager Vinod Kumar Yadav said that the tracks moved apart as bolts had loosened. There is also the possibility of miscreants trying to remove the bolts and an enquiry is on in this regard, he said.

District in-charge Minister Eshwar Khandre, Lok Sabha member Bhagawant Khuba visited the spot.

Due to the accident, Nanded-Bengaluru and Purna-Hyderabad trains will travel via Mundakhed. Hyderabad-Aurangabad train has been halted at Bidar while the Aurangabad-Hyderabad train has been suspended temporarily. The rail route will be restored by night, sources from the Railways department said.