Train Services Suspended For 5 Hours Between Jharkhand-Rourkela Amid Maoist Threat

Bhubaneswar: Railway authorities had to suspend train services on the crucial Mumbai-Howrah route for approximately five hours after a suspected Maoist poster was discovered on the tracks near Manoharpur, at the Odisha-Jharkhand border.

The decision, prioritising passenger safety, left numerous trains stranded at various stations between Jharkhand and Rourkela.

This incident follows recent clashes between security forces and Maoists in West Singhbhum district’s forests, resulting in Maoist casualties. In response, the group called for a bandh (shutdown) today, prompting heightened security measures along the borders.

Train services were halted from late night until 6 AM Wednesday, affecting passenger, express, and mail services. Authorities conducted thorough track inspections before resuming operations. The region has seen an increased security presence due to the potential for violence.