A passenger train was set on fire by irate local people at Delanga Station in Odisha’s Puri district, about 30 km from here on Friday. All passengers were, however, reported to be safe.
Local people were furious over the death of a youth, who died after falling down from a train on Thursday evening.
They started demonstration demanding compensation and stoppage of train at Delagna station from early morning. The situation went out of control in the forenoon.
“When emotionally-charged agitators did not get any quick assurance from Indian Railway, they torched the second coach of Puri-Barbil Express train. No human casualty or injury has been reported,” said Director General of Police Sanjeev Marik.
Mr. Marik said: “Those involved in vandalism would not be spared. Stringent action would be taken against them.”
According to the East Coast Railway, due to public agitation, train services have been cancelled, short terminated and controlled en route.
Train services returned to normal in this section at around 1.30 pm. The railway zone strongly condemned miscreants setting the train coach on fire and vandalising the station premises at Delanga railway station. ECoR said it would press for strong deterrent action against the miscreants.
According ECoR, Cuttack-Bhadrak-Cuttack passenger train, Paradeep-Cuttack-Paradeep passenger, Paradeep-Puri Inter City and Barbil-Puri Inter City Express were cancelled in view of vandalism.
The Puri-Barbil-Paradeep Express was short terminated at Delanga. It remained cancelled between Delanga and Barbil and Paradeep. Nine other trains were controlled en route.
