Police foil bid to derail Rajdhani Express and another train in Hardoi, UP
Loco pilot applies emergency brake on Rajdhani Express 20504 after detecting obstruction en route to Dibrugarh from Delhi
Attempt to Foil Train Derailments in Hardoi, UP: Loco Pilots Alert, Suspects Detained
In a major break, police in Uttar Pradesh’s Hardoi district foiled an attempt to derail two trains, including a Rajdhani Express, due to the vigil of loco pilots and railway staff. The crime was committed on Monday evening when some unidentified miscreants attached wooden blocks with earthing wire to the railway track between Dalelnagar and Umartali stations at the kilometre post 1129/14, which was a grave threat to train safety.
The loco pilot of the Dibrugarh-bound Rajdhani Express 20504 detected the obstacle and applied the emergency brake as soon as possible, said police reports. Realizing the threat, the pilot cleared the wooden blocks and informed railway authorities in time, averteding the derailment of the train. An attempt was also made to derail the Kathgodam Express (15044), but the surveillance of the crew of the train foiled the attempt of any mishap.
The site was visited by Superintendent Neeraj Kumar Jadaun on Monday night and instructed Railway Protection Force (RPF), Government Railway Police (GRP), and local police to further tighten investigations. Authorities have confirmed that units of different teams are thoroughly investigating the incident in order to find those guilty.
The police release showed that the wooden blocks were attached to an iron strip on the track, pointing to a purposive act of sabotage. Investigation is underway to identify the reasons for the act and to arrest the perpetrators.
This accident comes on the heels of a recent one in Jaunpur, when police arrested two men, Afzal Ali alias Sonu and another named Afzal Ali, for attempting to derail a train near Aunka village. They had put a steel drum onto the tracks close to Baksha police station. The RPF’s timely action averted an accident, and the suspects admitted their role. They were then arrested under sections 151 and 153 of the Railways Act.
The authorities remain watchful, with the police and railway authorities taking collective efforts to keep the train operations in the state safe. The investigations are still under way, and security is being increased to prevent sabotage of railway lines in Uttar Pradesh.
