The thought of ‘going or not going’ kept the Howrah-bound passengers confused here on Daltonganj railway station on Monday. The uncertainty was with the Dn 1447 Shaktipunj Express. The passengers were first told about the delay. later, they were informed about its cancellation. Again, they were told that train will arrive.
All these announcements led to panic among the passengers. Firoz, a resident of Nawa Toli recounted the experience and said, “My wife Tabassum Fatima and others had reservation in S 6 coach of this Shaktipunj express for Howrah. The train’s scheduled arrival was 1.10 pm in Daltonganj. The railway employees kept telling us about the delay of this train. But around 6.10 pm there came another announcement that this train stands diverted. It will take a route through Dehri On Sone and not reach Daltonganj.”
The statement of Firoz was confirmed by the railway station manager Ajay Ekka. Ekka said there was definitely an announcement of this train getting diverted and take the route of Dehri On Sone instead of Daltonganj. With no option left, the Howrah bound passengers took the Chopan passenger train to reach Garhwa Road junction from where the Shaktipunj express was to be diverted.
However, before the Chopan express train reached Garhwa Road junction, the Shaktipunj express train left for Daltonganj. The railways by then had withdrew the diversion announcement. They announced the Shaktipunj expresss train is coming to Daltonganj and it did come but was made to stand here for more than an hour to take back those passengers who were in Garhwa Road Junction.
The passengers who had reached Garhwa Road Junction by the Chopan passenger train were brought down to Daltonganj railway station by a goods train. The Shaktipunj express train was thus delayed by more than seven hours.
On this goof up the railway traffic inspector A K Sinha said, “There was the diversion announcement which was due to the blasting of the railway track between Jageshwar Bihar and Gomoh railway station through which the express train was supposed to cross.”
However, when the tracks were restored the train divert announcement was withdrawn. The railway traffic inspector accepted inconvenience of the passengers.