Train Sabotage Attempts on the Rise: A Growing Concern for India’s Rail Network

Recent incidents of train sabotage have raised concerns about the safety and security of India’s rail network. In the month of September alone, there have been multiple attempts to disrupt train services by placing obstacles on the tracks.

Incidents of Train Sabotage in September

Last month, an attempt was made to sabotage a train in Jaipur, Rajasthan, by placing concrete blocks on the tracks. The train broke through the concrete blocks and continued on its way, but a major accident was averted that day.

This month, there have been three attempts at train sabotage in Uttar Pradesh. An attempt was made to sabotage a cooking gas cylinder on a railway track in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. The incident occurred near Prempur railway station. When a gas cylinder was noticed on the track, the emergency brake was used to stop it. The train was travelling to Prayagaraj.

A similar incident occurred on the 8th of this month. The Kalindi Express was the one that was sabotaged. Even then, gas cylinders were placed on the tracks. This time, the train hit the cylinder but the accident was averted. Iron pillars were found on the track in Uttar Pradesh on the 19th of this month. The pillar was spotted between Bilaspur Road railway station and Rudrapur city railway station in Uttarakhand. The accident was averted because the locomotive pilot noticed a six-meter long iron pole placed across the tracks.

The train derailment also occurred in Madhya Pradesh. The target was a special train carrying soldiers to Jammu and Kashmir. But what was placed on the track was detonated. 10 explosions were found near Sagfata railway station in Burhanpur district of Madhya Pradesh. The intervention of the locomotive pilot averted a major disaster.

There have been two attempts to sabotage trains at Ponneri railway station. Here the situation is different. Both the attempts were made to sabotage the train by destroying the signal system of the railway. The sabotage attempt was made on the train bound for North India. The signal system on the track was broken at intervals of four days. The first incident occurred near Ponneri railway station where the cables leading to the signal system were found loose. The second attempt was made while investigations were underway. The sabotage attempt was made by removing the bolt of the signal junction box near the station from the track.

The latest coup attempt took place in Bathinda, Punjab. An attempt was made to derail the train by placing iron bars on the tracks. The attempted sabotage involved a goods train going from Bathinda to Delhi. Nine cables were found on the track. The Railway Police has started an investigation into the train’s history. In this way, in the month of September, five attempts were made to sabotage the train by creating an obstacle on the tracks.

Concerns and Questions

These incidents have raised concerns about the safety and security of India’s rail network. Who is behind these attempts? What is the motive? Why are these attempts being made? These are some of the questions that need to be answered.

Story Highlights:

• Multiple attempts to sabotage trains in September
• Incidents reported in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Punjab
• Attempts made to disrupt train services by placing obstacles on the tracks
• Investigations underway to determine the cause and motive behind the attempts