A passenger train struck a hefty piece of wood on the tracks late Thursday night, raising suspicions of sabotage in Uttar Pradesh. This incident follows a series of recent railway security breaches, including the discovery of an empty gas cylinder on the tracks and detonators intended to blow up a train carrying army personnel.
The Bareilly-Varanasi Express, operating between Delhi and Lucknow, encountered the two-foot-long wooden obstruction, weighing over 6 kg. The train dragged the wood for a short distance before the driver successfully stopped the train, averting potential disaster. However, the collision damaged a signaling device on the tracks, disrupting the Lucknow-Hardoi lines and forcing other loco pilots to operate with heightened caution.
In response to the incident, an FIR has been filed at the Malihabad police station. Railway authorities have dispatched inspection teams to investigate, while the nearest railway station issued warnings to station masters. Officials reported that it took considerable effort to remove the wooden piece from the tracks, leading to a two-hour disruption in railway traffic.
Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel also responded to the scene to secure the area and assist in the removal of the obstruction. During the investigation, a machete was discovered near the tracks alongside the wood, prompting further inquiries into the incident.
The central government is taking these recent sabotage attempts seriously and has assigned the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to examine these cases thoroughly. Previously, an alarming incident occurred in September when detonators were found on tracks targeting a special army train in Madhya Pradesh. Fortunately, the alert loco pilot was able to stop the train before any harm was done.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed that railway authorities remain vigilant against possible sabotage attempts and are coordinating with law enforcement agencies across several states. The NIA has begun a preliminary inquiry into recent derailments and accidents, though no concrete evidence has yet emerged linking these incidents to sabotage.
Sources By Agencies