Bhagalpur, Jan. 16: Officials of Kahalgaon super thermal power project of National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) fear electricity generation might be hampered if the merry-go-round (MGR) track is not repaired in two days.
A rake with 10 coal-laden wagons on the MGR derailed late last night, leaving the track damaged.
Sources said around 11.30pm, when coal-laden rakes on way to Kahalgaon plant from Rajmahal coalfield, also known as Lalmatiya pits, of Eastern Coalfields Limited in Jharkhand’s Godda district met with an accident between Jangalgopali and Lakshmipur villages falling under Kahalgaon police station.
Subhasis Ghosh, general manager, NTPC, Kahalgaon, along with a team of senior officers of the project, rushed to the spot this morning. Ghosh was not available for comment but another official, on condition of anonymity, said prima facie, it appeared that the accident occurred because of breaking of couplings of the rakes and shifting of fishplates of the track. He added that more than 500m of the MGR track was damaged in the accident and three railway bridges on the stretch partially affected. “Coal transportation from Lalmatiya coal pits was partially disrupted since late last night. We presume that almost two days would be required to repair the damaged tracks,” the official said.
NTPC officials remained tight-lipped over the possibility of any sabotage behind the mishap. Sources pegged present power generation at 2,025MW against the total capacity of 2,340MW.
A.K. Das, senior public relations officer, NTPC, Kahalgaon, said the actual cause behind the incident would be ascertained only after experts concerned conduct a proper inquiry.
Das said senior officials, who rushed to the spot, would initiate the probe. He said the accident would certainly hamper the smooth functioning of power generation of the plant.
“The Up line of MGR has been damaged but we are trying to get the coal supply by the Down track. Till 10.30am, the plant received two rakes of coal from Lalmatiya through the Down track of MGR instead of the normal daily supply of 12 to 14 rakes,” he added.
On earlier occasions, coal transportation on the MGR section had to face a series of sabotage, triggering such accidents, loss of huge amount of money and affecting power production.
