Major rail tragedy averted, track caves in at Rohtak-Panipat stretch

Rohtak: A major tragedy was averted on the Rohtak-Panipat rail stretch on Thursday morning after the earth caved in near Gandhi Camp due to rainwater-filled ditches in the unbuilt part of the elevated railway track.

The 6km elevated rail track of the Rohtak-Panipat railway line, which is estimated to cost Rs 316 crore, is under construction.

It had rained in Rohtak on Wednesday night and water had filled in the trenches dug to erect pillars to support the elevated rail track. When the earth caved in, the track also became unstable posing a threat of derailment.

A couple of trains were suspended on Thursday morning for about two hours when railway officials made efforts to fill the ditches dug within 50 metres of the track to make the trains pass with stability.

Sources said Ekta Express had crossed before the earth started caving in. The railway department patrolling team spotted the crumbling earth along the track, near Gandhi Camp, around 5am and reported it to the authorities. Employees of the railway department’s construction wing swung into action to fill in the trenches and finished it by 10am.

Passengers of the Haridwar Express had to remain stranded at the Rohtak railway station for about two hours and the train could depart only at 9.40 am instead of its schedule time 7.20am.

Jind-Rohtak passenger train was also affected by about two hours. Other trains that suffered were Ludhiana-Shatabadi express and Gorakhdham superfast trains.

Rohtak railway station superintendent Yashpal Meena told TOI that the railways is conducting investigations to find out who was responsible for it. On being contacted, an official representing the Gawad Construction Company that is building the elevated railway track said they were not aware of the incident.