Train services resume in Gaibandha, Kurigram

The TrimohoniBalashi section was opened for movement of goods wagons and Parvatipur-Ramna section for passenger trains after trial run on Sunday.

The recent deluge badly affected the Balashi ghat yard and all the five tracks up to Trimohoni. The water removed soil underneath about 1000 feet stretch of the tracks, leaving those virtually hanging and creating a veritable tributary of the mighty Brahmaputra. A temporary bridge has been set up on the 1000 feet stretch near the Balashi ghat yard.

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The flood also badly damaged about 30 kms of the track between Kurigram and Ramna.

"We completed the bridge within a week and made a successful trial run on Sunday," said Lalmonirhat Railway Divisional Engineer Shajaha Ali.

"We passed the 422 Down local train through the renovated Kurigram-Ramna section today (Monday)," said Divisional Railway Manager Emdadul Huq.

"Railway personnel worked round the clock to restore the rail communication", he added.

The disruption in rail communication made by the deluge had kept three barges loaded with wagons stranded on the Brahmaputra for over three weeks.

"We unloaded 67 wagons carrying fuel, food grains and fertiliser bound for northern districts from two barges yesterday", said an official in charge of barges.

The remaining two barges with about 65 loaded wagons, bound for Bahadurabad ghat, are still stranded on the Brahmaputra as the Dewanganj-Bahaduarabad section is yet to be reopened for traffic, he said.

Renovation of Dewanganj-Bahadurabad section is going on and is expected to be reopened by the end of this month, said railway sources.