'Conspiracy': Huge boulder placed on tracks could derail Sabarmati Express, suggests investigation | News from India

Hours after 20 coaches of the Sabarmati Express derailed near Kanpur, initial investigations have suggested a conspiracy behind the accident. The train derailed after the locomotive hit an “object lying on the tracks”. According to police, besides track barriers near the train, a huge boulder was also found on the tracks, leading to the accident. Just an hour and a half before the accident, another train had passed safely on the same track. Police suspect that the boulder was placed on the tracks between 1 am and 2.30 am. The train derailed at around 2.35 am. On the same track, a train between Patna and Indore was running non-stop at 1.20 am, railway board officials said.

The Railways reported that seven trains were cancelled and three others were diverted following the derailment. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that the Uttar Pradesh Intelligence Bureau and Police are investigating the incident. He also mentioned that arrangements are being made to ensure that passengers can continue their journey.

In a post on X, Vaishnaw said, “The locomotive of Sabarmati Express (Varanasi to Amdavad) hit an object lying on the tracks and derailed near Kanpur at 2.35 am today. Sharp impact marks were observed. Evidence is being collected. IB and UP police are also working on it. No injuries were observed among passengers or staff. Trains have been arranged for the passengers for their onward journey to Amdavad.”

The locomotive of the Sabarmati Express (Varanasi to Amdavad) hit an object lying on the tracks near Kanpur at 02:35 am today and derailed.

Sharp marks are being observed. Evidence is being secured. The IB and UP police are also working on it.

No injuries to passengers or staff. Train arranged… — Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) 17 August 2024

Kanpur Superintendent of Police Akhil Kumar said the train driver informed police that he saw something on the tracks from a distance and immediately applied the emergency brake, which led to the derailment. He, however, did not elaborate on what he saw. Kumar said that no FIR had been filed in this connection till Saturday evening as police had not received any written complaint from the railways so far. “A piece of iron, allegedly lying on the tracks and leading to the derailment of the train, was found around 70-80 metres from the accident site. No drag marks were visible,” the Superintendent of Police said.

Question: What about you? Why isn't that the case?#Rajneeti #Kanpur #SabarmatiExpress | @ramm_sharma pic.twitter.com/JXDLmXfAiC— ZeeNews (@ZeeNews) 17 August 2024

Officials of the Railway Board are currently investigating the possible involvement of miscreants or anti-social elements as initial findings suggest that the train's locomotive may have hit an object deliberately placed on the tracks. They reported that they spotted foreign objects near the 16th coach of the train.

According to officials, the extent of the damage to the locomotive's cattle grid indicates that it collided with this foreign object, causing the derailment. The locomotive engineer also noted that a boulder struck the cattle grid, causing significant damage and bending the front part of the locomotive.