In yet another concerning incident on railway tracks in Uttar Pradesh, a suspected sabotage attempt on Thursday night saw a passenger train collide with a large piece of wood strategically placed on the tracks. The train involved, Train No. 14236 Bareilly-Varanasi Express, was en route from Delhi to Lucknow when it struck the two-foot-long, six-kilogram wood log, dragging it along the tracks before coming to a halt.
Railway officials revealed that the log became wedged under the metal wheels, requiring considerable effort from both the inspection team and the loco pilot to remove it. The incident disrupted railway traffic for two hours on the Lucknow-Hardoi line, forcing the loco pilots of other trains to operate cautiously.
The nearest railway station issued immediate warnings to station masters, and Railway Protection Force personnel arrived on-site to assist in securing the area and removing the obstruction.
An FIR has been lodged at Malihabad police station, while authorities are investigating the incident as a potential sabotage attempt.
Recurring Threats to Railway Security in India
The latest incident follows a series of railway sabotage attempts across Uttar Pradesh and neighbouring Madhya Pradesh. Just last month, ten detonators were found on railway tracks in Burhanpur, Madhya Pradesh, in an attempt to disrupt a train carrying army personnel. Additionally, an empty gas cylinder was discovered on the tracks near Prempur railway station in Kanpur on September 22, forcing a freight train to halt abruptly.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted heightened vigilance across rail networks last month, affirming that the railway administration is working closely with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and local law enforcement to address security threats. The NIA has since been assigned to investigate these incidents, exploring possible sabotage angles, with a preliminary inquiry underway into four recent cases. So far, officials report no conclusive evidence linking these incidents to sabotage attempts, though investigations continue.
The Growing Need for Railway Safety Measures
With the NIA’s ongoing inquiry and repeated attempts to disrupt railway services, authorities remain on high alert. “Safety remains our priority, and we’re taking every precaution to prevent future incidents,” stated a railway official. The Ministry of Railways has committed to ensuring passenger safety through increased inspections and surveillance on high-risk routes.
