About 40 Maoists blew up tracks late last night between Rajla and Narganjo railway halts near Kahba bridge, affecting movement of several long-distance and local trains, official sources said.

A 2.5-foot stretch of the up line and five feet of the down line were damaged in the blast, Additional Director-General of Police (Headquarters) U S Dutt said in Patna.

A spokesman for the East Central Railway, Dilip Kumar, said the damaged tracks were repaired this morning facilitating resumption of train services, the Punjab Mail being the first train to start its journey on the up track.

Trains that had been stranded include South Bihar Express at Jamui, Punjab Mail at Barh, Bibhuti Express at Fathua, Lalkila Express at Gardanibagh, Upper India Express at Banka Ghat, Chapra-Tata Express at Madanpur and Toofan Mail at Ara.

2331 Himgiri Express has been diverted via Dhanbad-Gaya-Mughalsarai while 2370 Haridwar Express would go via Jamalpur and 2304 Poorva Express would travel to New Delhi via Gaya-Dhanbad route, Kumar said. PTI