Mathura train derailment: One line restored, efforts ongoing on remaining tracks

Rail traffic between Delhi and Mathura has resumed on one of the lines following the derailment of a goods train, officials said on Friday. The derailment, which occurred between Vrindaban Road and Ajhai stations on the Mathura-Palwal section of the North Central Railway (NCR) on Wednesday, affected three railway lines.

Prashasti Srivastava, Divisional Commercial Manager (DCM) and Public Relations Officer (PRO) at the DRM office in Agra, confirmed the progress: "The traffic on the third line was restored at 10:30 PM on Thursday, when a goods train coming from the Delhi side passed through it."

With this restoration, trains are able to pass through the third line, ensuring smoother operations. "After the restoration of the third line, traffic on the UP and DOWN line is going smoothly. A number of trains coming from the Delhi side have so far passed through the third line," Srivastava added.

However, efforts to restore the first and second lines are still underway. "It will take some time to restore both the tracks," officials noted.

The derailment, which disrupted services on three lines, resulted in either the cancellation or diversion of numerous trains. "The railways had either to cancel some trains or the route of dozens of trains was diverted," officials explained. Over 30 trains were affected by the incident, and approximately 500 workers have been deployed to assist with track clearance.

According to Divisional Railway Manager Tej Prakash Agarwal, "Twenty-five wagons of the train taking coal to Suratgarh power plant (in Rajasthan) derailed after Vrindavan yard," adding that no one was injured in the incident.

North Central Railway General Manager Upendra Chandra Joshi stated that clearing the tracks is the primary focus: "Our priority is to clear the track first, and then we will focus on other aspects."

While the cause of the derailment is not yet confirmed, officials are investigating all possibilities, including potential sabotage. "It is difficult to disclose the basic cause of derailment at this time. After the formation of the inquiry committee, all angles will be examined," Joshi said.

In order to expedite the repairs, accident relief trains (ART), equipment, and machinery have been called in from Agra, Delhi, and Moradabad.

(With inputs from PTI)