A massive fire broke out at the Telephone and Signal (T&S) office of Jharsuguda Junction due to a short circuit, completely paralysing the station's communication system. The incident, which occurred around 11:00 am, caused chaos within the station premises and forced the suspension of train operations. While preliminary reports suggest that the neglect of safety standards during construction work was the primary cause of the accident, railway authorities have stated that the full truth will only be revealed after an impartial investigation.
Cause Of The Accident
According to reports, extension work was underway on the old foot overbridge at Jharsuguda station. Allegedly due to the negligence of laborers, construction material fell onto the 25,000-volt overhead high-tension wire. This caused a loud explosion, snapping the wire, which then fell onto the telephone and signal cables laid below. As soon as the wire fell, a short circuit occurred, and the cables caught fire.
Spread Of Fire And Rescue Operations
The flames rapidly spread to the T&S office, and thick black smoke engulfed the entire station area. Immediately after the incident, RPF, GRP, and railway personnel safely evacuated passengers and the general public present on Platform No 1. Upon receiving the information, two fire engines rushed to the spot.
Firefighters faced significant difficulties entering the building due to the dense smoke. Subsequently, a special team equipped with masks and oxygen cylinders entered the premises and managed to bring the fire under control after a struggle lasting about two and a half hours. The T&S office was completely gutted in the fire, while more than seven adjacent offices, including the Deputy Station Manager's office and the Enquiry office, were also affected.
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Restoration Of Services
A detailed assessment of the damage has not yet been made. Immediately after the accident, the power supply to the high-tension line was cut off. Due to the collapse of the communication system, train movements were halted from 11:00 am. Later, the railway safety team reconnected the broken high-tension wire and restored the power supply.
Station Manager M Beura stated that the communication system was partially restored by around 1:00 pm, and train operations on the route resumed normally by 2:00 pm. following the incident, Town Police officials also arrived at the scene and managed the situation alongside the Railway Police.
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Investigation Ordered
Initial indications point to non-compliance with safety standards during construction as the major cause of the accident. Work was being conducted on the foot overbridge without adequate safety measures, leading to materials falling near the overhead wires.
Senior DCM Aditya Chaudhary stated that an investigation is also being conducted into potential technical defects in the overhead wire. He informed that a committee has been formed for a detailed inquiry into the incident. The actual causes and the extent of the damage will be clear only after the report is submitted. He added that the fire has been completely extinguished and the current situation is normal.