Cracks in Koel River Bridge Halt Trains; Ranchi–Lohardaga Express Suspended Until March

Lohardaga: Train operations on the Ranchi–Lohardaga–Tori route have been disrupted following structural cracks in the Koel River Railway Bridge (Bridge No. 115). The Ranchi–Lohardaga Express will remain suspended until March, with trains currently operating only between Ranchi and Irgaon. Connecting train and bus services have been arranged for passengers traveling between Lohardaga and Tori.

Inspection and Immediate Repairs
The technical fault was detected in pillars four and five of the bridge, prompting the South Eastern Railway (SER) to halt operations on the affected section. On Tuesday, SER General Manager Anil Kumar Mishra, along with a team of technical experts, conducted a detailed two-hour inspection of the bridge.

Pillar five has been prioritized for immediate repair, followed by pillars six and seven. Soil testing is expected to be completed by 15 February 2026 to ensure all technical measures are in place. The railway aims to resume limited train operations by the last week of March.

Complete Repairs by May
The full strengthening and rehabilitation of the bridge are targeted for completion by May 2026. Meanwhile, passenger convenience is being addressed through alternative arrangements. MEMU passenger trains will operate from Lohardaga up to Irgaon Halt, located seven kilometers away, with bus services connecting passengers between Irgaon and Lohardaga.

Additionally, connecting trains to Tori will be available to ease travel along this route. Railway officials have stressed that safety remains the top priority, and trains will only run once the bridge is fully secure.

24/7 Technical Efforts
Four dedicated technical teams will work round the clock to repair pillars four through seven using jacketing and piling methods. Temporary steel girders will also be installed to allow limited train operations once it is safe. Officials are also exploring the long-term possibility of constructing a new bridge over the Koel River on this line.

Passenger Guidelines

• MEMU trains will run between Lohardaga and Irgaon Halt.
• Bus services will connect passengers from Irgaon to Lohardaga.
• Connecting trains to Tori will be available.
• Express trains between Ranchi and Lohardaga remain suspended until further notice.

Repair Timeline

• Priority repair: Pillar five.
• Subsequent repairs: Pillars six and seven.
• Soil testing completion: 15 February 2026.
• Targeted resumption of train services: Last week of March 2026.