Kalyansinghpur: Flood water over rail tracks made Hirakhand express come to a halt for five hours at Bhalumasta station under Shikarpala panchayat in Rayagada district Saturday.
Sources said a check dam constructed for irrigation purpose at Tumbitarai village under Serigumma panchayat was Saturday washed away owing to incessant rain submerging the railway track.
After rolling over300 meters from the station, the train creaked to a halt finding the heavy current of floodwater over the track. Later, the train was brought back to the station, leaving passengers to fend for themselves.
The stranded train was only allowed to go at 11.40 am when a relief train came from Rayagada and inspected the tracks, informed Bhalumasta station master Ajit Prasad Padhi.
PNN