South Eastern Railway has cancelled 10 pairs of trains scheduled to operate on October 30 because of adverse weather and flooding linked to Cyclone Arnab, disrupting services across the Tatanagar, Chakradharpur and adjoining rail corridors.
Eight of the cancelled train pairs affect stations in the region, including Tatanagar, Chandil, Chakradharpur, Chakulia, Nimdih, Kandra, Gamharia and Rajkharsawan. The cancellations cover both long-distance and passenger services, affecting travel between key urban and industrial centres in Jharkhand and neighbouring states.
The affected services are the Tatanagar–Bilaspur Express, numbered 18113 and 18114; Tatanagar–Hatia Express, 18601 and 18602; Rourkela–Tatanagar Express, 68043 and 68044; Jhargram–Purulia MEMU, 68023 and 68024; Kharagpur–Tatanagar MEMU, 68013 and 68014; Asansol–Tatanagar MEMU, 68055 and 68056; Chakradharpur–Rourkela MEMU, 68025 and 68026; and Howrah–Jagdalpur Samaleswari Express, 18005 and 18006.
Two other train pairs cancelled by the railway are in the South Coast Railway zone: the Jharsuguda–Sambalpur MEMU, numbered 68031 and 68032, and the Rourkela–Gunupur Express, numbered 18117 and 18118. The cancellations reflect the impact of flooding and waterlogging beyond the immediate South Eastern Railway network, with disruptions extending into adjoining rail divisions.
The Howrah–Tiruchchirappalli Superfast Express, train 12663, will operate on a diverted route on October 30. Instead of its regular routing, the train will run via Kharagpur, Tatanagar and Jharsuguda because of waterlogging in the Visakhapatnam division.
The cancellations affect a network that serves daily commuters, industrial workers and long-distance passengers travelling through Tatanagar and Chakradharpur. MEMU services connect smaller stations and form an important part of regional mobility, while the express services link Jharkhand’s urban centres with destinations in Odisha, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and other parts of the country.
The disruption comes as the India Meteorological Department’s Ranchi office has issued a yellow alert for Friday, forecasting thunderstorms, lightning and heavy rain at isolated places in Garhwa, Palamu, Pakur, Godda and Sahibganj districts. The alert indicates that weather conditions remain a concern for road and rail operations in parts of the state.
Rainfall recorded on Thursday included 2.2 mm in Ranchi, 20.4 mm in Jamshedpur, 7.6 mm in Daltonganj and 12 mm in Bokaro. The Bano Simdega automatic weather station recorded 24.5 mm, the highest rainfall reported in the state. Temperatures also fell across several locations, with Ranchi recording a maximum of 21.8°C, down 2.4°C, and Jamshedpur recording 24°C, a decline of 3°C.
South Eastern Railway’s cancellations and the diversion of train 12663 are in effect for October 30. Passengers are expected to check the status of their services before travelling, particularly on routes passing through flood-affected sections and divisions.
