Train derailment: More time to be taken to restore tracks

Restoration of the railway line where the Mumbai-bound train derailed in West Midnapore district would take some more time to restore as the worst-affected coaches are yet to be removed from the tracks, railway officials said today.

It was expected that the up and down tracks where the worst-affected S-5 and S-6 coaches of the express and the wrecked engine of the goods train lay would be cleared by 2 pm this afternoon, but this would not be possible, they said.

The Howrah-Kurla Gyaneshwari express derailed following a Maoist attack yesterday, leaving 98 passengers dead.

Meanwhile, South Eastern Railways spokesman Soumitra Majumdar said that night operation of trains on the Kharagpur-Adra section on the Howrah-Mumbai route would remain suspended between 10 pm and 5 am till June 1, when the situation would be reviewed.