Overhead wire snaps near Bandel, Howrah-Bardhaman trains halted, thousands stranded

Train services on the Howrah-Bardhaman main line via Bandel came to a sudden halt on Thursday morning after an overhead wire snapped between Bandel and Hooghly stations. The disruption affected both up and down trains, leaving thousands of passengers stranded during peak office hours. According to Eastern Railway, repair work is underway, but major delays continue as several local trains, including the down Katwa local (37916) and another service (37918), remain stuck at Kuntighat and Guptipara stations, respectively.

Bandel Junction, a key interchange on the route, has been heavily impacted, with long queues of stranded passengers waiting for updates. Trains between Bandel and Adi Saptagram are also affected, further escalating the crisis for daily commuters. Passengers have reported significant delays, with many opting to walk along tracks or switch to alternative transport. A commuter traveling from Naihati to Bardhaman said, “Now I might have to walk part of the way. I heard the wire has snapped, but there is no clarity on when trains will resume.”

Railway officials are on-site, working to restore normal operations, with an estimated completion time of nearly two hours. However, ongoing technical work may lead to further delays. Authorities have advised passengers to check for service updates before traveling.