22 coaches of Sabarmati Express derail, sabotage suspected

Around 22 coaches of Sabarmati Express en route from Varanasi to Ahmedabad derailed near Govindpuri station in Kanpur last week after the engine hit an “object placed on the track”, triggering suspicions of sabotage and an intensive investigation. This was the second train derailment in UP in a month. Rail minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said: “Sharp hit marks are observed. Evidence is protected. IB and UP police are also working on it. No injuries to passengers or staff.”
At the accident site, a three foot-long segment of track that looked old and worn out was found near the 16th compartment of the train. The train had 1,727 passengers, of which 104 boarded at Kanpur Central.
According to the driver’s account, “prima facie, a boulder on the track collided with the engine, resulting in severe damage and distortion to the cattle guard of the engine”. Reports indicate that the train was travelling at 70-80 kmph when the driver applied the emergency brakes, leading the coaches to jump the rails.
However, North Central Railway (NCR) CPRO Shashikant Tripathi said: “The train’s loco pilot reported the engine’s bull-guard had collided with an object, leading to the derailment. A rusty, metrelong rail fragment was found at the site, which is believed to have caused the derailment. A committee has been formed to investigate the exact cause and sequence of events.”