Train operations on the busy Gaya-Patna rail route in Bihar were halted for nearly three hours early Thursday after thieves allegedly cut and stole about 100 metres of a 25,000-volt overhead electrical (OHE) cable between Tehta and Jehanabad stations, according to officials.
East Central Railway Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) Saraswati Chandra stated that the theft occurred at approximately 3:05 am, disrupting train operations along the route. During the interruption, trains heading in the down direction were run on a single line until repair work was finished, according to news agency PTI.
At around 3:05 am, thieves severed a 25,000-volt overhead equipment wire, approximately 100 metres long, between Tehta and Jehanabad stations on the Gaya–Patna route, causing disruption to train operations. As a result, affected down trains were run on a single line, Chandra informed the news agency.
Railway staff repaired the damaged overhead line, and the section was declared safe for operations at 6:26 am. The Railway Protection Force (RPF) has retrieved the stolen materials, and an investigation is underway to identify and apprehend those responsible.
A recurring problem?
The latest incident is not an isolated case. Similar thefts targeting railway electrical infrastructure have disrupted train services in Bihar in recent years.
Sources recently reported that signal cables were stolen near Danapur station in May 2026, causing delays to about a dozen trains, including the Humsafar Express and Shramjeevi Express. While that case involved signalling cables rather than overhead wires, it had a comparable effect on rail services and underscored the persistent issue of theft targeting railway infrastructure in the state.
In a separate incident in April 2024, an attempted theft of railway wiring between Chanpatia and Sathi stations on the Narkatiaganj–Muzaffarpur route reportedly led to the snapping of an overhead electric cable, disrupting train services for nearly five hours. Railway officials later stated that the theft attempt had destabilised the OHE infrastructure, necessitating repair and restoration work before operations could restart.