Odisha train tragedy: First train runs on accident-affected section

After 51 hours of closure following Friday's horrific triple train accident in India's Odisha, the first train set off on the route last night, officials said.

The goods train carrying coal from Vizag port to a steel plant was seen off by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in the presence of scores of media persons and railway officials.

The freight train ran on the same track where the Bengaluru-Howrah express train had rammed into derailed coaches of Coromandel Express, which collided with a stationary freight train seconds earlier.

"Down-line restoration complete. First train movement in section," tweeted Vaishnaw, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

Barely two hours after the restoration of the down line, the up line was also restored. An empty goods train was the first train to run on the up line of the accident-affected section. This is the same track on which the Coromandel Express was running before it entered the loop line and crashed into a stationary goods train.

"Three trains have left from the section (two down and one up) and we have planned to run around seven tonight. We have to restore normal traffic on the entire section.