Raiganj: Train movement in some parts of north Bengal and the Northeast was stalled for two hours after fire broke out in a wagon of a goods train near Dalkhola station.

Several passenger trains were halted at different stations. Road traffic along a stretch of NH-34, which connects Calcutta with Siiguri, was also affected as the goods train stopped at level crossing on the highway after catching fire.

Railway sources said the goods train was heading towards Guwahati from Katihar in Bihar. It was loaded with fertilisers.

At around 1.30pm, the guard on duty at the goods train noticed flames coming out of a coach while the train was approaching Dalkhola station. He pulled emergency brakes that brought the train to a halt.

Seeing flames and smoke emanating from a coach, tension spread in the station and adjoining areas. Railway authorities then severed the engine as a section of locals and railway employees took the task to douse the fire.

Also, movement of other trains through Dalkhola was stopped, and so was the movement of vehicles along NH-34 that passes near to the station.

Fire serve officials were informed and a fire tender rushed to the spot from Islampur, located around 60 km away.

After about an hour, the blaze was doused. Meanwhile, the stretch of NH-34 in Dalkhola got congested a several vehicles stood in beeline.

Policemen reached the spot and brought situation under control. It took almost two hours for the train and road traffic movement to return to normal.

Later, the engine was attached to the coaches and the goods train was hauled away from the station.

"A probe would be conducted to find out the cause of fire. It is good that the guard noticed it early or else, there could have been a major fire," said an official posted at the Katihar division of Northeast Frontier Railway.