MARGAO: Rail traffic along the Konkan Railway route was disrupted after the Goa-bound Rajdhani Superfast Special derailed inside a tunnel at Ratnagiri in the early hours of Saturday.
Though no casualties were reported, the route remained paralysed for close to six hours.
Chief PRO of Konkan Railway, L K Verma, said a front wheel of the loco of the Nizamuddin—Madgaon Rajdhani Superfast Special derailed inside the Karbude tunnel between Ukshi and Bhoke railway stations at 4.15am on Saturday.
The derailment occurred owing to a “boulder fall”, he said.
Konkan Railway officials said that the rail maintenance vehicle and accident relief medical van having re-railing equipment reached the site soon after the incident and relief and restoration work was launched immediately.
Senior railway officials also rushed to the site to monitor the progress.
Verma said after restoration work was completed, a track-fit certificate was issued at 8.18 am and the Rajdhani Superfast Special was cleared from the affected track at 9.14am.
Traffic was restored at 10.27 am, he said.
Deputy general manager (PR), Baban Ghatge, told TOI that four Goa-bound trains running along the Konkan Railway route were affected by the derailment.
Lokmanya Tilak Terminus—Mangalore Matsyagandha Express, Konkan Kanya Express, Gandhidham—Nagercoil Gandhidham Express and Ajmer—Ernakulam Marusagar Express were delayed by almost 3 hours.
The Rajdhani Superfast Special arrived at Margao at around 2.30pm, a delay of nearly five hours.
“The derailed Rajdhani train was brought to Ratnagiri station where the loco was changed for its onward journey,” Ghatge said.
This is the second time in the past six months that a derailment has occurred in the Ratnagiri region of Konkan Railway.
On December 20 last year, the front axle of a utility track vehicle had derailed between Diwankhavti and Khed railway stations, severely affecting rail traffic on the route.