Sabarmati Express Derails Near Kanpur, 22 Coaches Run Off Track After Hitting Boulder, Investigation Underway
In what can be termed as one of the massive rail mishaps, 20 coaches of Sabarmati Express – (19168) derailed early Saturday morning in Uttar Pradesh, near Kanpur Junction.
Train Accident
The incident occurred at about 2.30 a.m. and the train was going from Varanasi to Ahmedabad. According to PTI, the train’s engine rammed into a boulder that was apparently lying on the tracks, leading to the derailment.
No casualty has been reported among the passengers or staff. An official of the Railway Board said that the impact of the collision with the boulder broke the locomotive, bending and causing serious damage to the cattle guard at the front of the engine.
Response and Immediate Effect
Seven trains were canceled, and three others diverted after the derailment. Shashi Kant Tripathi, CPRO of North Central Railway Zone, who is in charge of the area, said that buses had been deployed for shifting passengers from the accident site to Kanpur Railway Station. An eight-coach MEMU train was also dispatched from Kanpur to the accident site so that passengers could return to Kanpur, from where further arrangements would be organized to take them to their destinations.
Ongoing Investigation
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw took to social media regarding the incident, where he expressed his concern and hinted that the derailment is being treated as suspicious. “The engine of the Sabarmati Express (Varanasi to Ahmedabad) hit an object kept on the rail track and it derailed while passing near Kanpur at 02:35 am today. Sharp hit marks are observed. Evidence is protected, ” Vaishnaw said in a tweet. The “sharp hit marks” as noted here already have the central agencies scrutinising the conditions of the derailment.
The Railway Ministry has ordered a detailed inquiry into the incident to ascertain the exact cause and fix responsibility. Preliminary findings indicate that a boulder on the railway tracks could be the cause of this incident. This has, therefore, initiated an intensified investigation to rule out any malafide intention or negligence.
Safety of Passengers, Future Precautions
The Railway authorities have once again assured passenger safety in the wake of this incident. Measures are being initiated to prevent the recurrence of such accidents by increasing inspections on the track and vigil in areas prone to similar hazards.
The derailment of the Sabarmati Express is a grim reminder of the actual challenges in railway-infrastructure maintenance and the stringency required in safety measures. Prompt action on the part of the Ministry of Railways and the probe underway indicate that the authorities are taking the matter seriously.
Conclusion
The accident involving the Sabarmati Express, which occurred close to Kanpur, has been of huge magnitude and disrupted rail services, raising many a question over rail safety. No casualties have been reported, and therefore, investigating the cause of the derailment and taking prevention measures are the priorities. This immediate response of the Railways Ministry, from putting in alternative transport to ordering a thorough probe, is an effort towards mitigating immediate concerns as well as preventing future instances of such mishaps. Further updates on this unfortunate incident would be available as the investigation unfolds.
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