A serious accident happened early Saturday morning when 22 cars of the Ahmedabad-bound Sabarmati Express (train number 19168) ran off the rails between Kanpur and Bhimsen stations in Uttar Pradesh. The event occurred at roughly 2:29 a.m., only 30 minutes after the train left Kanpur Central Station. Fortunately, there are no early reports of passenger casualties.
Initial reports indicate that the train’s engine collided with a huge item on the track, likely a rock, causing the catastrophe. The locomotive pilot said that the contact seriously destroyed the livestock guard, resulting in the coaches’ derailment. Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw acknowledged the event, stating that the engine “hit an object placed on the track and derailed.”. He further added that the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the Uttar Pradesh Police are investigating the incident, which has resulted in strong impact marks on the engine.
In response to the incident, the Indian Railways dispatched buses to assist the stranded passengers, ensuring they could reach Kanpur safely. Arrangements have also been made to help the passengers continue their journey to Ahmedabad.
The derailment has caused significant disruptions to train services in the region. As a result, seven trains have been cancelled, and several others have been diverted. Among the affected services are trains operating between Varanasi Junction and Lucknow Junction, Kanpur and Meerut, and Gorakhpur and Lokmanya Tilak.
The Indian Railways has issued emergency helpline numbers for the affected stations, including Prayagraj, Kanpur, Mirzapur, Etawah, Tundla, Ahmedabad, Varanasi City, and Gorakhpur, to assist passengers and their families in obtaining information about the incident.
The exact reason for the disaster is still being investigated, with investigators attempting to discover if the object on the rails was purposefully put or if it was an unfortunate accident. The railroads minister promised the public that all evidence was being meticulously kept and that the inquiry would be conducted thoroughly.
As the inquiry continues, rail officials are working to restore normalcy to the impacted routes and ensure the safety of all passengers travelling through the region.
