Missing wagons surface after more than a year

CUTTACK: At least five wagon loads of rice, wheat and cement reached Cuttack Railway Station on Thursday evening much to the surprise of the railway authorities. For, the wagons were arriving after a delay of a year and a half. The rice had been moth-eaten while the condition of wheat and cement was no better. Railway officials said the rice, about 600 quintals, had been mobilised by the Food Corporation of India. While a consignment of 42 wagons had been booked in April last year, all but one had reached Cuttack. The 42nd one along with the wheat and cement bags reached on Thursday. It was immediately not known where the wagons had gone missing. Railway sources said, the foodgrains along with cement had, by mistake, either stranded at another station or got attached to another goods train. The wagons apparently travelled several hundred kilometres, including a visit to Secunderabad, before being redirected to Cuttack. No one had staked claim though the FCI authorities had been intimated about the rice and wheat, the railway staff said. The cement bags had become stones after being exposed to air and moisture for such a long period.