LPG Cylinder Found On Railway Tracks In UP, Sabotage Suspected

Mumbai: A major accident was averted on Sunday morning when the loco-pilot of a goods train applied emergency brakes after spotting a gas cylinder on the railway tracks near Prempur station. The train, travelling from Kanpur to Prayagraj, came to a halt at around 5:50 am after the driver noticed the obstruction.

The Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of North Central Railway confirmed the incident, stating, “A goods train going from Kanpur towards Prayagraj was stopped using emergency brakes after the driver spotted a gas cylinder lying on the tracks near Prempur Station. Railway IOW (Inspector of Work), security, and other teams examined the cylinder and removed it from the tracks. Upon inspection, it was found that the 5-litre cylinder was empty. An investigation into the matter has been initiated.”

This incident is the latest in a series of alarming occurrences on the railway tracks in the region. Earlier this month, a major tragedy was narrowly avoided when the Prayagraj-Bhiwani Kalindi Express struck an LPG cylinder that had been deliberately placed on the tracks.

According to authorities, the loco-pilot applied emergency brakes after spotting the object, but the train collided with the cylinder before coming to a halt. Fortunately, the collision dislodged the cylinder from the tracks, preventing further damage. A Molotov cocktail was also recovered from the scene, and an investigation is ongoing.

In another recent incident, 22 coaches of the Varanasi-Ahmedabad Sabarmati Express derailed on August 17 near Kanpur after the train’s engine struck a boulder placed on the tracks. The loco-pilot had reported the obstruction before the derailment, and authorities are continuing to investigate.

Last week, a six-meter-long iron rod was discovered on the railway tracks between Bilaspur Road and Rudrapur city. Railway authorities suspect sabotage, as the loco-pilot was forced to use emergency brakes to prevent a potential disaster. The incident is under investigation.

These incidents have raised concerns about the safety of railway operations, with authorities ramping up security and surveillance to prevent future attempts to sabotage the railways.

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