Rail traffic on the busy Howrah–Chennai main line faced disruptions on Thursday after the locomotive of a passenger train suffered a technical breakdown near Visakhapatnam.

According to railway officials, the Palasa–Visakhapatnam MEMU train came to a halt close to the Marripalem railway station due to a sudden technical snag in its locomotive engine. Because the train stopped on the main operational line, it triggered a cascading delay for several consecutive trains operating right behind it.

The unexpected engine failure completely blocked incoming rail traffic toward the Visakhapatnam main terminal. As a direct result, multiple express and passenger trains were stopped abruptly at various preceding stations along the route.

Station platforms and outer tracks at Simhachalam, Pendurthi, Kottavalasa, Kantakapalle, and Vizianagaram railway stations were crowded with stranded trains as regional controllers halted movement to prevent further track congestion.

Passengers suffer

Anxious commuters faced a grueling wait of over two hours as technical teams rushed to the spot to clear the track. The unscheduled delay left hundreds of passengers vulnerable to intense heat and sultry weather conditions inside the stationary coaches.

The situation turned particularly miserable for vulnerable travellers, including women, infants, and senior citizens, who had to endure suffocating humidity without adequate ventilation or quick access to refreshments on the outer tracks.

Technical snag confirmed

Speaking to The Hindu, a senior railway official later clarified the cause of the major line block, stating, “The delay was caused strictly due to a technical snag in the loco of the Palasa MEMU.”

Emergency breakdown teams and relief engines were dispatched immediately from the main yard to tow the disabled MEMU train and restore normal traffic operations. Normalcy was restored on the section, official added.