Asuspected attempt to derail the Rajdhani Express was foiled after an empty 1,000-litre water tank was found placed on the railway tracks in Bihar’s Saran district late Friday night.
The incident took place near Vijay Rai Tola village under Revilganj police station area on the Chhapra-Ballia railway line, where the engine of the Dibrugarh-New Delhi Rajdhani Express collided with the tank.
However, the alertness of the loco pilot prevented a major accident. The pilot immediately controlled the train and informed railway authorities about the obstruction on the track.
Following the incident, the train was stopped at Gautam Sthan railway station, affecting operations for more than an hour.
Timeline Of Rajdhani Express Incident In Saran
-1:40 pm: Rajdhani Express reached Chhapra Junction after running about four hours late.
-1:48 pm: The train departed from Chhapra Junction towards New Delhi.
-1:58 pm: The engine hit a 1,000-litre water tank placed on the track near Vijay Rai Tola.
-2:00 pm: The loco pilot informed the railway control room about the incident.
-2:15 pm: Hearing a loud noise, villagers reached the spot.
-2:35 pm: Revilganj police arrived and began investigation.
-2:40 pm: Railway mechanical team and Railway Police reached the site.
-3:00 pm: Senior railway officials took stock of the situation.
-3:10 pm: The technical team removed the tank stuck in the engine and carried out repairs.
-3:15 pm: Rajdhani Express resumed its journey.
-4:00 pm: Railway Police cordoned off the village and intensified the investigation.
Loco Pilot’s Alertness Prevented Major Accident
According to reports, the Rajdhani Express was running nearly four hours behind schedule. After the collision, the water tank got stuck in the front portion of the engine, creating a risk of the train going out of control.
The loco pilot immediately controlled the speed of the train and informed railway authorities, following which officials swung into action.
Passengers Panic After Collision
The incident briefly created panic among passengers onboard the Rajdhani Express. However, railway staff assured them of their safety and brought the situation under control. No passenger was reported injured.
Police Begin Investigation, Suspects Being Traced
After the incident, Railway Police and local police cordoned off Vijay Rai Tola village and started searching for those responsible. The owner of the water tank, whose house is located in the area but who currently lives in rented accommodation in Chhapra city, is also being questioned.
Police are analysing CCTV footage from nearby areas and checking mobile phone data from the time of the incident. The Railway Police is preparing to register an FIR, and the preliminary investigation is treating the matter as a serious conspiracy to derail the Rajdhani Express.
Railway officials said strict legal action will be taken against those found involved after the investigation is completed.