Kanpur: A major train tragedy has been averted in Kanpur after dangerous items such as an LPG cylinder, petrol bottle, and powder were found on the tracks in an alleged attempt to sabotage and derail the Kalindi Express on Sunday night.
The incident took place around 8.25 pm last night when the Kalindi Express had just departed from the Barrajpur station and was 2.3 kilometres away when it hit a gas cylinder kept on the tracks, causing an explosion. Hearing the loud sound, the loco pilot immediately hit the emergency brakes and found there were drag marks from a metal object on the tracks.
He informed the Railway Protection Force (RPF) aboard the train and a thorough search of the area was carried out in which several objectionable items including the cylinder have been recovered. Due to being hit by the train, the cylinder was thrown away from the tracks.
An FIR has also been lodged in this connection and seeing the gravity of the incident, the Railway authorities have also informed the Uttar Pradesh DGP and the local police.
The train took a halt for around 20 minutes at the incident spot before resuming its journey but was again stopped at the Bilhaur station for investigation before being cleared for its ongoing journey, police said.
The North Eastern Railway (NER) said the loco pilot was unhurt in the incident and the train also did not suffer any damage. The loco pilot and the train manager alerted the RPF who then recovered the cylinder and other items before informing the authorities.
Cylinder, gunpowder, petrol kept on train tracks
Videos from the spot showed a crushed gas cylinder, a glass bottle reportedly filled with petrol, and a bag containing several boxes of matchsticks and gunpowder from the tracks. A team of forensic personnel were also called to the spot and further investigation is underway. The items recovered have been sent for further examination, sources said.
Railways take serious note of derail attempt, IB roped in
Sources say the Railways are serious about the sabotage given the kind of objects that were kept on the track. The Intelligence Bureau has been informed and handed over the investigation into the incident. An FIR was lodged after a thorough surveillance of the incident spot.
The incident comes amid a series of attempts to derail trains by sabotaging the tracks in Uttar Pradesh and other parts of the country. Several incidents of stone pelting on trains, majorly on the Vande Bharat Express trains have also been reported recently.