UditVani, Jamshedpur: A freight train derailment was reported once again at the Gua SAIL railway siding in West Singhbhum district on Tuesday morning, severely disrupting rail operations and iron ore transportation.
The incident occurred around 10:45 am at the bunker siding, where one wagon of a goods train suddenly derailed, blocking the entire track.
Following the derailment, rail movement on the route came to a complete halt for nearly four hours, causing significant delays.
The disruption directly impacted the transportation of iron ore from the Guwa SAIL plant, with several rakes stranded on the line. The interruption also affected production and supply operations, leaving employees struggling to manage the situation.
Local residents and SAIL workers pointed out that this is not the first such incident at the same bunker siding.
According to them, freight trains have derailed at this spot on at least four previous occasions, raising serious questions about rail safety and maintenance standards. Repeated mishaps have intensified concerns over the functioning of both the railway authorities and the plant management.
It is noteworthy that after earlier derailments, the Gua SAIL management had replaced the British-era railway tracks with newly laid tracks to prevent future accidents.
However, the latest derailment on the new track has once again put the quality, design, and maintenance of the rail line under scrutiny.
On receiving information, officials from the Railways and SAIL rushed to the site. With the help of cranes and technical teams, the derailed wagon was removed after several hours of effort, and the track was restored, allowing rail operations to resume.
Meanwhile, South Eastern Railway General Manager Anil Kumar Mishra was scheduled to inspect the Gua railway siding on Tuesday.
However, due to the track obstruction caused by the derailment, he could not visit Gua.
Instead, he carried out inspections at the Dongaposhi, Noamundi, and Barajamda railway sidings.
The recurring derailments have once again highlighted the urgent need for a comprehensive safety audit and corrective measures to prevent future accidents on this crucial industrial rail corridor.
