Bengal train services hit by heavy showers

Heavy overnight rains triggered by cyclone Komen flooded vital railway stations and railway car sheds in West Bengal hitting train services on Saturday.

While the South Eastern Railway (SER) cancelled 19 suburban trains, the Eastern Railway was forced to cancel one. Several trains ran behind schedule.

The SER also rescheduled three Express trains - the 18645 Howrah-Hyderabad East Coast Express, 18615 Howrah-Hatia Kriya Yoga Express and 12860 Howrah-Mumbai Gitanjali Express while 11 EMU local ones were rescheduled to take off from Santragachi instead of Howrah.

Apart from this, three Mail and Express trains - 12828 Purulia-Howrah Express, 12833 Ahmedabad-Howrah Express and 22832 Sri Satya Sai Prashanti Nilayam-Howrah Express were short-terminated at Santragachi instead of Howrah.

Altogether 15 Mail and Express trains arrived or departed from Howrah behind schedule.

SER authorities said waterlogging at the vital Howrah junction, Tikiapara and Santragachi railway yards resulted in congestion, delaying the trains.

On the suburban services front, altogether 19 trains were cancelled and 15 other trains short terminated at Santragachi instead of Howrah. Another three EMU trains short-originated from Santragachi instead of Howrah.

"One train has been cancelled," an Eastern Railway spokesman told IANS.

However, he said trains are running late by 15-30 minutes due to waterlogging.

"Both passenger and freight services have not stopped or been cancelled... but Express, Mail and EMU local train services have been delayed," he said.