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| Grid trip hits north India, 10 dead in train collisions | | |
ET DESK
Jammu, Jan 2: The northern grid tripped early Saturday causing a power blackout in many parts of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Chandigarh and seriously hitting train services in all states of region.
Electricity supply was restored within a few hours in most parts of Punjab and Haryana, the two states where train traffic was the worst affected. While trains to Jammu were badly hit electricity supply could not be restored to most parts of the state.
The tripping in the northern grid took place at 3.02 a.m. "The snag developed due to thick fog over Punjab and Haryana," Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) chairman H.S. Brar was quoted as saying. Hectic work was on to restore power supply in all the states.
Power supply had been restored in 60 percent of the areas. "Tripping occurred because of accumulation of continuous layers of fog and moisture over the insulators, which are installed on iron electric polls," he said.
"There is nothing to worry about the tripping as it is essential for the protection of the grid. In intense cold and fog, we see frequent tripping," Brar added.
"Power supply has been partially resumed. Very soon it will be activated throughout the region," he said.
Reports said that at least 10 people were killed and 39 injured, 15 of them seriously, in three accidents involving five passenger trains in Uttar Pradesh amid dense fog and near zero visibility conditions early Saturday.
Among those killed when the Bhiwani-Gorakhpur Gorakhdham Express hit the stationary Prayagraj Express at Panki railway station in Kanpur district were seven men and three women, GM, North Central Railway, Allahabad Zone, Harishchandra Joshi said.
The accident took place when the two trains coming from Delhi were on the same track, he said. Though fog appeared to be the reason behind the mishap, an inquiry has been ordered to go into the exact reason behind the accident.
Commissioner, Railway Safety, will start the inquiry in the accident on Monday. Railways have announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the family of those killed, Rs 1 lakh to those seriously injured and Rs 10,000 for those with minor injuries.
The Delhi-Allahabad Prayagraj Express was at the station when the Gorakhdham Express hit it from behind in dense fog, PRO of North Central Railway (Allahabad) Amit Malviya said.
Senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi, who was travelling to Allahabad on the Prayagraj Express, was unhurt. The guard of Prayagraj Express was killed in the accident, a Railway official said. The ladies unreserved coach next to the guard's compartment was severely damaged in the collision leading to two bogies climbing over each other. |
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