Nepal Flood Tragedy Overshadows Launch Of UP's Nepalganj Road-Bahraich Rail Section

New Delhi, August 31: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the Nepalganj Road-Bahraich broad-gauge rail section on Monday, but the event was subdued due to the tragic floods in Nepal. An undecorated train was formally introduced on the Nepalganj Road-Varanasi City route without a formal inauguration ceremony, with the Chief Minister present at the Nepalganj Road station while the Minister joined remotely from Rail Bhawan.

Unlike traditional launches, no flowers adorned the train or cultural events held, as the Ministry opted for a low-key affair.

While the gauge conversion carries significant importance for Bihar and Nepal, the floods' devastation prompted the Ministry to honor the victims by observing two minutes of silence. Vaishnaw, in a virtual address, conveyed his deepest sympathies and announced that the Indian government was actively working to provide relief to the affected population in Nepal. Railway officials stationed along the India-Nepal border were also deploying aid, alongside officials from the district, state, and Ministry of External Affairs.

The line had originally been a metre-gauge route constructed by the British, and there had been a prolonged call to broaden it, thereby integrating it into the larger rail network. This upgrade would facilitate mail and express trains for the benefit of residents in nearby regions. Speaking at the launch, Vaishnaw revealed that four trains would commence operations on the section, catering to a vast number of commuters.

Before the inauguration, the railway network was broad-gauge and electrified up to Bahraich. On Monday, the conversion and electrification of the Bahraich-Nepalganj Road segment were officially inaugurated.