At a time when the Indian Railways and probing agencies are investigating multiple sabotage attempts to derail trains, another case of a train derailment attempt has come to light from Uttar Pradesh. A major train accident of Kalindi Express (14117) which was traveling on the Anwarganj-Kasganj Route in Kanpur was averted after the loco pilot applied an emergency brake.
As per the reports, a deliberate attempt was made to derail the Kalindi Express by placing a gas cylinder on the route. However, the accident was averted after the pilot heard the suspicious sound of the cylinder hitting the train. He happened to immediately apply the emergency brake in between the Barrajpur and Bilhaur regions ceasing the train movement.
उत्तर प्रदेश : कानपुर में कालिंदी एक्सप्रेस ट्रेन को पलटाने/उड़ाने की साजिश
— Sachin Gupta (@SachinGuptaUP) September 9, 2024
रेल पटरी पर रखे गैस सिलेंडर से टकराई ट्रेन। सिलेंडर और पेट्रोल भरी बोतल मिली। गनीमत रही कि वो फटे नहीं। साजिश की जांच शुरू हुई। pic.twitter.com/a65yu7O0Ys
The Rail Authorities and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) took cognizance of the incident and indicated that a deliberate attempt was made to cause a train derailment. Apart from the gas cylinder, the authorities also recovered glass bottles, a matchbox, and a suspicious bag from the route.
The authorities stated that the pilot immediately informed guard Rajiv Kumar about the matter after applying emergency brakes. Guard sent a memo to the office informing them about the cylinder after that immediate investigation was undertaken.
During the investigation, marks of rubbing of an iron-like object were also found on the track. Kannauj’s RPF Inspector OP Meena examined the railway track and surrounding bushes with the help of a searchlight. RPF Assistant Commandant MS Khan also confirmed that filled LPG cylinders, matchsticks, bottles, and other suspicious items have been recovered from the spot.
A major accident was averted near Kanpur in NER zone when, at 20.30 hrs Train Manager 14117 (PRYJ- BNW) reported taht LP 14117 that one cooking cylinder was on track at km 37/8-9 between BJR- UTP & dashed with Loco no. 30071. TM & ALP searched cylinder but nothing was found.… pic.twitter.com/W3G3UFh8cQ
— Anand Narasimhan🇮🇳 (@AnchorAnandN) September 9, 2024
PRO of Izzatnagar division Rajendra Kumar Singh said that the matter is being investigated. “Due to the incident, the train stood still for about 22 minutes. As a precautionary measure, the train was also stopped for some time at Bilhaur station. Lucknow-Bandra Express going from Lucknow to Bandra Terminus was also stopped at Bilhaur station,” he added.
Past deliberate attempts to derail trains
This is not the first time such an incident has been reported. A few days ago, on 31st August, a loco pilot averted a major train derailment and loss of life by promptly applying emergency brakes after the goods train he was operating collided with motorcycle scrap placed on the railway track in Rajasthan’s Baran district. Initial reports indicated that an unidentified person had placed bike scrap on the railway track near Chachauda village in the Chhabra area.
On the night of 17th August, the engine of the Sabarmati Express train derailed near Govindpuri station in Kanpur. Soon after, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed that the derailment took place because of an object placed on the railway track. It was later revealed by the investigative authorities that a broken piece of railway track was kept on the train line to cause an accident.
Then on Thursday, 22nd August, the Aligarh Railway Police charged one Afsan for deliberately placing an alloy wheel on the railway track to derail a moving train. The incident happened on Tuesday, 20th August when the accused made a deliberate attempt to recreate the Kanpur rail accident that happened on August 17th.
On the 23rd of August night, the Farrukhabad Express running between Kasganj and Farrukhabad narrowly averted a major accident after coming in contact with a wooden log placed on the railway track. As per reports, the train experienced a sudden jolt, forcing the loco pilot to apply emergency brakes and bring the train to a halt. It was later discovered that the wooden log had stuck to the train’s engine.
Similarly, a major accident was averted in October last year as stones and rods were kept on railway tracks in a potential attempt to derail the Udaipur-Jaipur Vande Bharat Express. Earlier in August, a YouTuber named Gulzar Sheikh was arrested for putting different items on railway tracks including cycles, soaps, stones, and more in the name of content creation.
Terrorist involvement in train derailment incidents
As reported earlier, the Indian authorities are currently reviewing train derailment incidents that transpired in the recent past after a video of a Pakistan-based Islamic terrorist, Farhatullah Ghori surfaced online. Notably, the Pakistani terrorist has posted a video on Telegram instigating his supporters to carry out large-scale train derailments in Delhi, Mumbai, and other Indian cities.
Inciting the Jihadis to interrupt the railway lines and their transportation system, Ghori said that it would cause havoc in India. The terror recruiter on the intelligence establishment’s most wanted list stated, “The government is targeting our properties through ED and NIA, but we will remain steadfast and usurp power sooner or later.” In the three-minute video, Ghori asked the mujahideen to launch an “ishtishadi jung” or “fidayeen war” against Hindu leaders and police.
Notably, the Farhatullah Ghori who was designated a terrorist in 2020 has been involved in several terror attacks in India. Ghori was the mastermind of the 2001 Akshardham Temple attack which left 30 dead and 80 injured, the 2004 suicide attack on the Task Force office in Hyderabad, and the 2023 Rameshwaram Café blast case. Terrorist Farhatullah Ghori is originally from Hyderabad, India.
