BHUBANESWAR: Cyclone Arnab disrupted rail services on the Howrah-Chennai route on Thursday, with nine trains cancelled and 14 others diverted after the swollen Bahuda river crossed the danger mark at two railway bridges in Odisha’s Ganjam district, officials said.The East Coast Railway said the Vande Bharat Express connecting Bhubaneswar with Visakhapatnam, the Bhubaneswar-Visakhapatnam Intercity Express, and the Visakha Express, which runs between Bhubaneswar and Secunderabad in Telangana, were among the major trains cancelled, news agency PTI reported.Train services in the Ichchapuram-Jhadupudi section of the Visakhapatnam Division were affected because water was flowing above the danger level at two bridges on the route, it said.“Nine trains have been cancelled, and 14 others diverted to ensure passenger safety. Railway officials are closely monitoring the situation. Train services will be restored once the water level recedes and the section is declared safe for train operations,” an official said.In another statement, the East Coast Railway said 550mm of rain brought by Cyclone Arnab in Ganjam district had led to a sharp rise in the water level of the Bahuda river, PTI reported.The water level at Baghalati Dam on the Bahuda River crossed the danger mark following heavy rainfall. This led to a rise in water levels at railway bridges between Ichchapuram and Jhadupudi, it said.Officials said several precautionary measures had been taken to ensure passenger safety, with several trains on the Howrah-Chennai route diverted.With passengers stranded at different locations, the railways have made arrangements to provide them with food and water, PTI reported.Additional manpower has been deployed to guide passengers, address their grievances and provide necessary assistance, it said.(With agency inputs)