Sambalpur: Rail authorities have cancelled several trains here because of modernisation work between the Sambalpur division's Therubali-Singapur Road and Muniguda-Bissamcuttack in Titilagarh-Singapur Road sections on Thursday and Friday.

The Howarh-Jagdalpur Samleswari Express departs from Howrah on Thursday and will terminate at Titilagarh the following day. It will return as the Jagdalpur-Howrah Express from Titilagarh to Howrah. The Howarh-Jagdalpur-Howarh Samleswari Express will not run between Titilagarh and Jagadalpur on Friday. The Raipur-Vishakhapatnam Passenger will also be terminated at Titilagarh and return as Vishakhapatnam-Raipur Passenger from Titilagarh on Friday.

These apart, the Rourkela-Koraput Express has been cancelled since September and the Sambalpur-Raygada Intercity partially cancelled, creating resentment among people. These trains connect the western and southern parts of Odisha.

The rail authorities said September's heavy flood had partially damaged the rail bridge near Therubali in Rayagada district. Sambalpur division deputy railway manager Jaideep Gupta said the cancellation was to minimise the load on the damaged bridge.