Train News: Investigation into the conspiracy to derail the Kalindi Express is ongoing. Meanwhile, it is reported that there have been three attempts to derail trains within a week. Also, two cases of stone pelting have been reported during this period. However, the Railway Ministry has not officially said anything about the figures. Recently, a gas cylinder was found on the track in Kanpur district of Uttar Pradesh, but due to the driver’s presence of mind, a major accident was averted.
According to a Times of India report, railway officials say that three attempts to derail the train and two incidents of stone pelting in the past week point to criminal intent. Officials have also stressed that such incidents have become a major concern.
According to the newspaper, recently terrorist Farhatullah Gauri had released a video in which he had appealed to his supporters to derail trains on a large scale. Along with this, there was talk of targeting the supply chain to harm the infrastructure. According to the report, since June last year, 17 such cases have come to light where loco pilots or railway staff have encountered things like stones, pieces of wood, tampering with signals on the tracks.
Apart from this, there have been reports of misuse of tracks by many social media influencers. Cases have been registered by RPF in this regard. Also, many criminals have been arrested. The report quoted sources as saying that special attention has to be paid to the inspection of tracks passing through identified sensitive areas.
Speaking to the newspaper, an official said, ‘This is a very difficult task, but all efforts are being made to avoid any accident.’ According to the report, sources have said that an accident was averted near Solapur’s Kurduvadi station on September 5. At that time, someone had deliberately placed a wrong slab on the tracks, but it is reported that the alert loco pilot stopped the train on time.
Cylinder found on tracks
According to PTI, six people, including two local history-sheeters, were detained for questioning on Monday in connection with the attempt to derail the Kalindi Express. Kanpur West Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Rajesh Kumar Singh has confirmed this. Singh said that the detained people are being questioned thoroughly, but refused to share detailed information with the media.
A major railway accident was averted in Kanpur district when unknown people placed a cooking gas cylinder on the track in front of Kalindi Express going from Prayagraj to Bhiwani. Seeing this, the driver applied emergency brakes and the cylinder fell away after hitting it. In view of the possibility of terrorists being involved in the incident, the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has also started a separate investigation into the matter.
