By Avijit Biswas
Bhagalpur: A portion of National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Merry Go Round (MGR) railway track connecting Lalmatia coal mines in Godda district of Jharkhand with NTPC power plant at Farraka in West Bengal was damaged last night by miscreants near Ranga Ghuttu village under Barhet police station of Sahebganj district in Jharkhand.
Coal transportation from Lalmatia coal field to NTPC power plants in this region was reportedly disrupted for some time following damage caused to MGR track. There was however no loss of life or property due to damage of railway track. The MGR track is dedicated railway line used for transportation of coal to Kahalgaon and Farraka plants of NTPC from Lalmatia mines.
Though it is yet to be confirmed by Sahebganj police whether railway track was damaged using explosive however as per unofficial information the miscreants used explosive for blowing up the track.
With approximately three feet deep crater found at site of damage and pieces of damaged portion of track found scattered at distance more than thirty meters from site of damage, the unofficial sources said is reason for suspicion track was blown up miscreants using explosive.
As per unofficial information people residing close to the railway line heard blast sound last night and subsequently found the railway track had been damaged. A coal laden goods train was standing close to the site of damage near poll no 42/02 at time when track was damaged.
Some wires suspectedly used for exploding the tracks have been recovered from place at a distance from site of damage, as per unofficial information. Unconfirmed reports further stated the possibility miscreants who damaged the railway track are involved in anti-national activities cannot be ruled out totally.
Amit Kumar Singh, SP, Sahebganj who visited the site of damage with other senior officials told media persons the incident is being investigated from all angles. Use of explosives for damaging the track could be ascertained only after receipt of FSL report, he added. The SP however ruled out possibility of any extremist involvement in the incident.
Ravi Ranjan Sahu, Assistant Public Relation Officer (APRO), NTPC Kahalgaon Power Plant contacted by View 19.in said the place where MGR track was damaged is under jurisdiction of NTPC Farraka power plant. He however confirmed the damaged track has been repaired and normal movement of trains has resumed on MGR line.
- Writer Avijit Biswas, former principal correspondent of Hindustan Times Bhagalpur bureau, can be contacted at biswasavijit@yahoo.comContact number (mobile): +919431095516
