Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 16: The newly-introduced direct train from New Delhi to Katra, the base camp of Vaishno Devi shrine, was stuck in a tunnel for about two and half hours this morning due to suspected wheel slip caused by heavy rains when it was about six to seven kilometers short of Katra railway station.
Official sources said fully air conditioned ‘Shri Shakti Express’, which was only on its second trip from New Delhi to Katra after being introduced as maiden long distance train to the holy town on July 14, was stalled inside 900 meters long Tunnel No. 27, about six to seven kilometers short of Katra railway station at 4.35 am today.
The train got stalled in the tunnel, which had full ventilation and lighting and there were no safety issues, sources said. Moreover, they added, the train was fully air conditioned and there was no scope of the passengers feeling suffocated.
Sources said preliminary reports said the cause seems to be wheel slip as there were reports of very heavy rains in the area.
“A relief banker engine was sent from Udhampur which pushed the train up to Katra, observing all precautions. The train got delayed by about two and a half hours,’’ sources said, adding it was scheduled to reach Katra at 5.10 am but it reached the railway station around 7.30 am.
Earlier, Railway authorities suspected that the train was stuck due to “engine failure”.
The fully air-conditioned super fast train Shri Shakti Express from New Delhi to Katra was on its second run when the incident took place about six to seven kilometers before the station.
The train was launched a day earlier from New Delhi.
Meanwhile, Northern Railway has ordered an inquiry into the incident.
“Since Katra is a new station from where train services were launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 4 only, another engine was rushed from Udhampur to take to train safely to Katra,’’ sources said.
“There was no problem in the tunnel or the line. Another engine was pressed into service to carry forward the journey,” sources said.
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