A coal-laden goods train derailed between Bendi and latehar railway stations in the wee hours of Monday when the Maoists blasted the tracks.
Following the blowing up of about ten metres of the Up railway line at railway pole number 220/.27 between Bendi and latehar stations, the 58-wagon goods train bearing number 31021 derailed in which 24 coal-laden wagons were wrecked.
The rest of the coal wagons of the goods train en route to Ambala from Khilari fell on the Dn line too resulting in the total shut down of all train traffic on this route of CIC section of Dhanbad railway division.
The train engine was also wrecked but its driver and assistant driver are safe, said one official of the railways, Santosh Tiwary, who holds a high post in the railway employees union.
Michael S Raj, SP of latehar, said the blast took place around 2.20 am this morning. He said the Maoists made the railways their target as it is too soft for them. Yesterday they had attacked the Bareysarn police station also, he said.
The ongoing operations against the ultras has unnerved the Maoists, he claimed. The Daltonganj railway station at around 2.25 am blew the siren thrice to alert its personnel for rescue and relief and other related works following the blast, said sources. There was no loss of life, said the railways.
About half a dozen long-distance express trains like Garib Rath, Rajdhani, Howrah Bhopal, Shaktipunj Tata Amritsar, Varansi Inter City have been diverted on the Up and Dn lines. It may take 48 hours to repair the lines, a railway official said.