The probability of a terrorist conspiracy is increasing in the case of 22 coaches of Sabarmati Express (19168) derailing in the early hours of August 17 in Kanpur. The way the track was tampered with, it seems that there was a conspiracy to derail the train and cause maximum casualties. Although the train derailed, thankfully, there were no casualties. After the Intelligence Bureau, now the Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) has also joined the investigation in this case.
In this case, Senior Section Engineer Mahendra Pratap Singh Sisodia has lodged an FIR in Panki police station. It has been said in the FIR that a broken piece of track was kept on the Railway line. The train derailed after colliding with it. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had also said the same thing.
After the accident, Minister Vaishnaw had said that the engine of the train had collided with some heavy object placed on the track. There are marks of collision on the engine and the IB is investigating it. At the same time, Railway officials said that there is a suspicion of conspiracy because Patna Express had passed through the same track 1 hour 20 minutes before the arrival of Sabarmati Express. The line was clear at that time.
It has been said in the FIR that Sabarmati Express was going from Varanasi to Ahmedabad. It was being driven by loco pilot AP Bundela. On the night of August 17, the train reached near Govindpuri-Bhimsen station at 2.27 am. A heavy object was seen in the middle up line at 1338/21-19 KM point. Upon seeing it, the loco pilot/co-loco pilot applied emergency brakes, but the heavy object collided with the cattle guard of the engine.
The cattle guard got bent due to the collision. Apart from this, the front wheels and 22 coaches derailed. The loco pilot informed Jhansi Control Room about this at 2.30 AM. A piece of old railway track was found at the site. Marks of fresh heating were found in it. This suggests that a piece of iron was placed on the track deliberately to derail the train.
2-3 pieces of railway tracks were also found on the spot. These pieces were placed on the railway track. These pieces were fastened with screws so that they do not come out due to the vibrations from the train and the train passes over them at a high speed and gets derailed and causes maximum destruction. However, the speed of the train was 80-90 kmph and the loco pilot applied emergency brakes after seeing the suspicious object.
At the same time, senior officials of ATS said that whenever a train derails, ATS reaches the spot and investigates at its own level. ATS has been asked to submit the report of Sabarmati Express accident to Lucknow headquarters as soon as possible. At present, evidence is being collected to identify the people who placed the pieces on the track.
