The repair work on the 100-metre stretch of the Bhopal-Khandwa Railway track between Khirkiya and Harda stations is underway after two trains derailed on the line on Tuesday night, claiming 29 lives.
Railway sources said the train movement would remain suspended on the track for the next four-five days. Repair work is being affected due to incessant rain.
Seven coaches of the Kamayani Express and three coaches and an engine of the Janata Express are still lying on the spot. They would be lifted with the help of crane. The tracks were badly twisted in the disaster and the coaches landed in awkward angles. However, removal of coaches is not possible as long as the tracks are not repaired.
Meanwhile, Railways commenced the distribution of ex gratia to the deceased's kin on Thursday. Twenty-nine people were killed when the Varanasi-bound Kamayani Express and Mumbai-bound Janata Express derailed while crossing a bridge on the Machak river between Khirkiya and Harda stations on Tuesday night.
The West Central Railway (WCR) General Manager Ramesh Chandra has said, "We are working on a war-footing and trying to restore the traffic on the damaged track by Sunday. We are working to lay the new line at the accident site given that the old ones have been completely damaged," he added.
Asked about the financial loss the Railways has suffered in the derailments, he said that the priority right now is to provide relief to the victims and restore the tracks. "losses will be worked out later," Chandra added.
Meanwhile, Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety DK Singh also reached the accident spot on Thursday for inspection.
Railway spokesman KK Dubey said, "Preliminary investigations suggest that the derailment occurred because the tracks collapsed after heavy rain. The soil and base materials underneath the tracks were washed away in the downpour."