Jamshedpur: Rail operations in the Tatanagar section were disrupted on Monday after a critical railway signalling cable was found damaged near the Jugsalai overbridge, leading to a temporary failure of the signalling system and track circuit in the area.
Signalling System Comes to a Halt
According to railway officials, the disruption occurred during the early hours when a vital communication cable was severed near the overbridge. The damage caused the track circuit — a key safety system used to detect train movement and control signal aspects — to malfunction, resulting in blank signals along the affected stretch.
As a precautionary measure, railway authorities halted the movement of several incoming and outgoing trains to avoid any safety risks.
Passengers Affected
The incident caused delays to multiple express and passenger trains operating under the South Eastern Railway network. Hundreds of passengers were left waiting at Tatanagar and nearby stations as train services remained suspended for several hours.
“I have been waiting for over two hours. Railway officials informed us that a technical snag near Jugsalai has disrupted train movement,” said a passenger bound for Howrah.
Restoration Work in Progress
Soon after the incident was reported, teams from the Signal and Telecommunications (S&T) department rushed to the site to carry out repair work. Preliminary findings suggest the cable may have been damaged during nearby construction or maintenance activity, though officials said all possibilities are being examined.
A senior railway official said restoration work was being carried out on a priority basis. “The damaged cables are being spliced to restore the track circuit. We expect normal rail operations to resume by the afternoon,” the official added.
Railway authorities have advised passengers to check the status of their trains before travelling and expressed regret for the inconvenience caused.
