Not keen to take any chances in the wake of the derailment of the Gyaneshwari Express on Friday, the railway ministry has decided to suspend the running of passenger trains for seven hours in the night in Naxal-affected areas, during the Black Week declared by the Left-wing extremists.
The decision came after Maoists derailed the Howrah-Kurla Gyaneshwari Express in West Midnapore district of West Bengal in the wee hours of Friday, killing more than 100 people.
Passenger trains will not run from 10 pm to 5 am between Kharagpur-Tatanagar and Kharagpur-Adra sections of South Eastern Railway and the suspension of night run will remain in force till 5 am on June 3, the railways said in a statement.
A day after the railway disaster, some mail and express trains on the section are running late or are being diverted, the statement added.
The railways have extended free travel facility to the next of kin of the deceased victims and injured passengers receiving medical attention in Kharagpur, Midnapur and Howrah. Relatives of victims can approach helpline booths at the stations to avail of the facility.
