Bhubaneswar | The Puri-Howrah Vande Bharat Express was stranded between Baitarani Road and Mandgi Road stations in Odisha since Sunday evening after a huge tree fell on the train, partially damaging its front end. The halted travel was restored around 9.35 pm, an official said. A tree fell on an overhead power line and was later hit by a train, affecting overhead electrical equipment.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had flagged off this train on 18 May. It had to be stopped between Baitarani Road and Manghi Road at around 4.30 pm. An East Coast Railway official said the incident occurred due to damage to the overhead wire.
The overhead wire equipment was repaired and a diesel engine was attached to the train from the site to Mandgi Road, as the pantograph had become entangled with the overhead wire.
The train reached Kenduapada at 9.04 pm and the diesel engine got detached from the train at 9.24 pm.
Officials said the Vande Bharat Express left the station at 9.35 pm without a diesel loco and crossed Bhadrak station at 9.52 pm.
The Howrah-Puri-Howrah Vande Bharat Express was canceled on 22 May due to late running of the train.
