The roof collapsed around 8.50am, when four steam engines were inside
It has also brought fresh urgency to a Rs 25 crore project to redevelop Darjeeling station and modernise the heritage loco shed. Wednesday’s collapse is the second major blow to the facility in just over two months, following a rockfall on June 21 triggered by torrential rain.
Katihar divisional railway manager (DRM) Kirendra Narah said engines inside escaped undamaged. Since it is a heritage structure, restoration will take time and must be carried out carefully,” Narah said. The incident forced cancellation of all seven 16km joyride services and prompted railway authorities to assess damage. It has renewed safety concerns about the century-old building, which houses and maintains DHR steam locomotives. Following the accident, authorities suspended all seven joyride services — three steam and four diesel runs — as a precaution. The Darjeeling-NJP regular service, however, remained unaffected. “The roof had accumulated garbage and debris, and incessant rain appears to have triggered the collapse.
Darjeeling : Eight railway employees, including a contractual worker, were injured when a portion of the historic Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) loco shed collapsed amid incessant rain on Wednesday morning.