Train services resume on Cuttack-Nergundi rail section in Odisha
Bhubaneswar (PTI): Train service resumed on both tracks of the Cuttack-Nergundi rail section in Odisha's Cuttack district on Monday morning following the derailment of the SMVT Bengaluru-Kamakhya AC Express on the route, a senior railway official said.
The derailment, which occurred between Kendrapara Road and Nergundi stations in the Cuttack-Bhadrak railway section on Sunday had disrupted train services temporarily, the East Coast Railway (ECoR) said in a statement.
The first passenger train, Bhubaneswar-New Delhi Rajdhani Express (train No-22823), passed the site in the down line at 10.25 am, it said.
ECoR's railway men worked tirelessly through the night and under challenging conditions to restore the affected tracks by 07:15 am on Monday, the track was cleared and ready for train movement and the Overhead Equipment (OHE) was fully restored by 07:40 am, it said.
ALSO READ: 1 killed, 7 injured as Bengaluru-Kamakhya AC Express derails in Odisha
The first train on the 'down line' passed through at 09:30 am, while the "up-line" resumed service shortly thereafter, a railway official said.
Trains resumed normal movement at reduced speeds (approximately 10 km per hour) as restoration work continued. Speed limits will be gradually increased as the situation stabilises, he said.
A 22-year-old youth from Alipurdwar in West Bengal was killed and three others injured in the accident. The railway authorities have provided compensation to the victims.
Due to the derailment, ECoR diverted 38 down-line trains and 17 up-line trains to alternative routes, ensuring minimal disruption to passengers.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS), South Eastern Circle, Kolkata under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Brijesh Kumar Mishra started an inquiry into the incident. He visited the site on Sunday night, said Parmeshwar Funkwal, general manager of East Coast Railway.
CRS will also hold a statutory inquiry in connection with the above incident where the details of the derailment and accident will be heard during the probe, he said.
Any member of the public having knowledge relating to the derailment and matters connected therewith and desiring to give evidence may do so at the office of the DRM/Khurda Road Division, Jatni (Khurda Road) on April 1 and 2, the official said.
Public having knowledge relating to the derailment can also write to "The Commissioner of Railway Safety, South Eastern Circle, 14, Strand Road, 12th Floor, Koilaghat Street, Kolkata-700001."
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Parliament passes Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025
New Delhi (PTI): Parliament early Friday passed the contentious Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, after it was approved by the Rajya Sabha.
The Lok Sabha had on Thursday approved the Bill after over a 12-hour debate.
In Rajya Sabha, the Bill got 128 votes in its favour and 95 against after all the amendments moved by the opposition were rejected.
In the lower house, the bill was supported by 288 MPs while 232 voted against it.
Participating in a debate in the Rajya Sabha, Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the Bill was brought with a number of amendments based on suggestions given by various stakeholders.
"The Waqf Board is a statutory body. All government bodies should be secular," the minister said, explaining the inclusion of non-Muslims on the board.
He, however, said the number of non-Muslims has been restricted to only four out of 22.
Rijiju also alleged that the Congress and other opposition parties, and not the BJP, were trying to scare Muslims with the Waqf Bill.
"You (opposition) are pushing Muslims out of the mainstream," he added.
He said for 60 years, the Congress and others ruled the country, but did not do much for Muslims and the community continues to live in poverty.
"Muslims are poor, who is responsible? You (Congress) are. Modi is now leading the government to uplift them," the minister said.
According to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, Waqf tribunals will be strengthened, a structured selection process will be maintained, and a tenure will be fixed to ensure efficient dispute resolution.
As per the Bill, while Waqf institutions' mandatory contribution to Waqf boards is reduced from 7 per cent to 5 per cent, Waqf institutions earning over Rs 1 lakh will undergo audits by state-sponsored auditors.
A centralised portal will automate Waqf property management, improving efficiency and transparency.
The Bill proposes that practising Muslims (for at least five years) can dedicate their property to the Waqf, restoring pre-2013 rules.
It stipulates that women must receive their inheritance before the Waqf declaration, with special provisions for widows, divorced women and orphans.
The Bill proposes that an officer above the rank of collector investigate government properties claimed as Waqf.
It also proposes that non-Muslim members be included in the central and state Waqf boards for inclusivity.
