In the early hours of Saturday, August 17, the Sabarmati Express experienced a derailment near Kanpur. The incident occurred at approximately 2:35 AM when the train’s engine struck an object placed on the tracks. Fortunately, no passengers or railway staff were injured in the derailment.
The derailment involved the engine of the Sabarmati Express, which was travelling from Varanasi to Ahmedabad. According to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, twenty of the train’s coaches went off the rails following the impact with the object.
Minister Vaishnaw confirmed the situation via X (formerly Twitter), stating, “The engine of Sabarmati Express (Varanasi to Ahmedabad) hit an object placed on the track and derailed near Kanpur at 02:35 AM today.” He further elaborated, “Sharp hit marks are observed. Evidence is protected. IB and UP police are also working on it.”
The engine of Sabarmati Express (Varanasi to Amdavad) hit an object placed on the track and derailed near Kanpur at 02:35 am today.
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…
— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) August 17, 2024
The Minister assured that there were no reported injuries among passengers or staff. Arrangements have been made for the passengers to continue their journey to Ahmedabad on an alternative train.
The investigation is ongoing, with the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Uttar Pradesh police involved in examining the scene and gathering evidence.
This incident is not an isolated case of intentional track obstruction. Several YouTube channels have gained notoriety for placing various objects on railway tracks and recording the outcomes for views and shares.
Earlier this month, Gulzar Sheikh, a YouTuber, was arrested for placing items such as bicycles, soap bars, and stones on railway tracks as part of his content creation. This trend underscores a troubling issue of unsafe practices for online popularity.
