Several trains on the Howrah-Mumbai main line, including Geetanjali and Kurla expresses, were delayed for the second consecutive day on Monday due to flooding of tracks on the Titlagarh and Rayagada sections of Odisha.

Officials of South Eastern Railway (SER) said heavy rain caused flash floods at Rayagada, which affected movement of trains. A public agitation at Jharsuguda railway station under Chakradharpur railway division compounded matters.

The Howrah-bound Geetanjali Express, Kurla Express and Ahmedabad Express ran late by an hour on Monday. All three trains pass through Tatanagar. On their return journey, these three trains usually arrive at Tatanagar between 8.30am and 9am.

Railway officials at Tatanagar said the Howrah-Titlagarh Ispat Superfast Express was delayed too. "The up train reached Tatanagar on schedule at 10.40am. But the down train, scheduled to arrive at 2.25pm, was delayed by over one hour," an official said.

The down Tata-Alleppey Express was delayed by several hours. The train was supposed to arrive at Tatanagar station at 9.15am on Monday, but reached at 3pm.

Railway sources at Garden Reach, the SER headquarters in Calcutta, said because of Sunday's floods in Rayagada, the Dhanbad-Alappuzha Express had to be diverted via Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Angul and Khurdah Road, while the Hatia-Yesvantpur Express was diverted via Jharsuguda, Bilaspur, Raipur and Nagpur.

Officiating manager at Tatanagar A.K. Biswal said they had received a circular on train movements. "The disruptions are because of floods beyond Titlagarh," he added.

Officials at Chakradharpur division said the public agitation at Jharsuguda lasted for about two hours from 8am. Local residents were demanding stops for some of the mail and express trains that go via Jharsuguda.