20 coaches of Sabarmati Express derail near Kanpur, Railways hints at sabotage

PTI, KANPUR, AUG 17, 2024 : Twenty coaches of the Ahmedabad-bound Sabarmati Express passenger train derailed near Govindpuri station in Kanpur early Saturday after the engine hit an "object placed on the track". 

Agencies are investigating the possible involvement of anti-social elements in the incident, railway officials said. There were no casualties in the derailment that occurred between Kanpur and Bhimsen railway stations at around 2:35 am, disrupting traffic on the route.
According to the Railways, seven trains were cancelled and three were diverted due to the derailment. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the Intelligence Bureau and Uttar Pradesh police were looking into the incident and arrangements were being made for the onward journey of passengers. 

In a post on X, Vaishnaw said: "The engine of Sabarmati Express (Varanasi to Amdavad) hit an object on the track and derailed near Kanpur at 02:35 am today." Sharp hit marks are observed. Evidence is protected. IB and UP police are also working on it. No injuries to passengers or staff. Train arranged for passengers for onward journey to Amdavad." 

Asked about the incident, Police Commissioner, Kanpur, Akhil Kumar told news agency PTI that it "is premature to reach a conclusion on whether it is an accident or an act of mischief, but it could be anything". 

"The loco pilot told the police that he had seen something on the tracks from a distance and he immediately applied the emergency brakes that resulted in the derailment, but he failed to elaborate on what he saw," he said. 

Kumar said that no FIR had been lodged in this connection till Saturday evening as the police had not received a written complaint from the railways so far. Railway Board officials said the involvement of miscreants or anti-social elements is being looked into as prima facie it appears that the engine hit an object "placed on the track".