Post News Network/Agencies
Puri, April 17: A mob Friday set on fire a compartment of an express train at Delang station after a local youth fell from a running train Thursday night and died.
The youth, who was travelling by the Barbil-Puri Express tried to get off the running train at Delang Thursday night and fell off the speeding locomotive. The train did not have a stoppage at the station. The youth has been identified as 22-year-old Ratikant Chatoi of Gualipada under Delang police limits.
Local people set on fire a general compartment of the train while it was returning from Puri Friday morning. The bogie was completely gutted but no passenger was hurt in the incident, a Railway spokesman said.
The mob also damaged furniture at Delang station, the official said. Train movement on the route was affected for four hours.
East Coast Railway cancelled four pairs of trains and controlled nine services, he said.
The cancelled services include the Cuttack-Bhadrak passenger, Paradeep-Cuttack passenger, Paradeep-Puri intercity, Barbil-Puri intercity which would remain cancelled Saturday. The Puri-Barbil-Paradeep express was short terminated at Delanga and cancelled between Delanga and Barbil/Paradeep.
Normalcy returned after railway officials had a discussion with the local people who continued to demand a stoppage at Delang and Kanas Road stations.
ECoR spokesperson JP Mishra said the act of torching the coach and vandalising Delang station is highly condemnable and the Railways will press for strong deterrent action against nefarious elements.