A major incident unfolded at Cuttack Railway Station on Wednesday when an old boundary wall near Gate No. 2 collapsed onto Platform No. 1, causing a 30-meter section of the tin roof to cave in.
The collapse, which occurred around 3:30 PM, is believed to have been triggered by the use of a vibrator machine during ongoing station renovation work. One person was seriously injured and admitted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in critical condition, while fears persist that more workers may be trapped under the debris.
The incident took place just minutes after the Vande Bharat Express departed from Platform No. 1, narrowly averting a larger tragedy due to the reduced number of passengers on the platform. The collapse damaged both Platform No. 1 and the adjacent railway tracks, halting train operations for nearly four hours. Immediate response teams, including the Railway Protection Force (RPF), Government Railway Police (GRP), and a sniffer dog unit, launched a rescue operation on a war footing. Fire services and a specialised railway technical team used advanced equipment to clear the debris, including heavy iron angles and tin sheets.
The renovation work at Cuttack Railway Station, ongoing for months, involves upgrading both Gate No. 1 near College Square and Gate No. 2 near the goods yard. The old wall, weakened by continuous rainfall, is suspected to have given way under the vibrations from the demolition equipment.
Railway authorities have initiated an investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the collapse, with preliminary findings pointing to structural vulnerabilities exacerbated by the use of heavy machinery.
The loud crash caused panic among passengers on nearby platforms, prompting a stampede-like situation. RPF and GRP personnel swiftly brought the situation under control.
Senior railway officials, along with the Cuttack District Collector, DCP, Mayor, and local representatives, arrived at the scene to oversee rescue operations and assess the damage. Security has been tightened at both station entrances, and train services on Platform No. 1 resumed by 7:20 PM with the passage of 68408 Bhubaneswar–Balasore MEMU after repairs.
While no additional casualties have been reported as of late Wednesday night, search operations with sniffer dogs continue to rule out the possibility of trapped individuals. The incident has raised serious questions about the safety protocols followed during the station’s renovation, with railway officials promising a thorough probe.
