Maoists blow up rail track in Chhattisgarh

 A group of suspected Maoists allegedly blew up portion of a railway track on Kirandul- Visakhapatnam section here, affecting the transportation of iron ore from the mines in Chhattisgarh, police said.

According to police, a group of armed Maoists came to Bhansi railway station last night, which is about 10 km from Dantewada district headquarter, held the rail staff captive and then damaged a railway engine parked at the station, police said.

Asking the railway officials to stop plying trains in this section during the night, the rebels blew up a portion of the track. However, the damage only came to light this morning.

Due to the damaged track, iron ore from the National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) could not be transported throughout the day, railway officials said adding that the restoration work had been undertaken.

They added that traffic on the section would be restored late tonight.