Sabarmati Express derails in Kanpur: Sabotage suspected after collision with track obstruction

KANPUR: Around 22 coaches of the 19168 Sabarmati Express en route from Varanasi to Ahmedabad derailed near Govindpuri station in Kanpur early Saturday 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 after the Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express accident on July 18 between Motiganj and Jhilahi railway stations.Four passengers died and 29 others were injured in that accident.
Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on X: "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." 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 70-80kmph 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, metre-long 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."
Railways cancelled seven trains and diverted three. NCR general manager Upendra Chandra Joshi said, "We are trying to restore the second line, on which the train derailed, and which suffered maximum damage. It will take some time, but every effort will be made to restore the route as soon as possible."
To expedite track restoration, an accident relief train was dispatched from Kanpur and more have been requested from Jhansi and Prayagraj divisions. However, the Kanpur-Jhansi route remains blocked. This section sees heavy train traffic as it connects the country's northeastern region with Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and southern India.
Following the Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express accident, the driver had reported hearing a loud sound as the train approached Jhilahi, prompting him to apply emergency brakes. The train was travelling at 70-80kmph. Of its 22 coaches, eight were fully derailed and others partially off-track. A team that conducted a preliminary probe found pieces of cloth with at least 72 elastic clips used to secure a section of the track. The report also said 140 clips were found to be loose, 38 out of position, and 10 missing.