A potential train accident was averted in Uttar Pradesh thanks to the quick thinking of an alert loco pilot. The pilot of the Rae Bareli-Raghuraj Singh Passenger Train halted the train just in time upon discovering sand dumped on the tracks.
The incident occurred on Sunday evening when the pilot activated the emergency brakes of train No 05251, preventing it from derailing. Reports indicate that the sand was dumped at the Raghurajpur railway crossing by an unknown dumper around 7:55 PM
Eyewitnesses reported that earth-filling work was ongoing for the Ganga Expressway project. A dumper involved in the project left the sand on the railway track and quickly departed. Fortunately, the Rae Bareli train was traveling at a low speed, which allowed the pilot to bring it to a sudden stop, thereby avoiding a serious accident.
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Had the train been moving at a higher speed, the consequences could have been severe, according to eyewitness accounts.
The police are now investigating the incident and have launched a search for the dumper driver. After the sand was cleared, rail traffic on the route resumed, officials confirmed.
This near-miss follows another incident on October 5, when a Lucknow-bound train was halted in time after a car was spotted on the tracks. The driver of the Gorakhpur-Lucknow Intercity Superfast Express applied the emergency brakes to stop the train near the Gonda-Lucknow rail section.
Since August, Indian Railways has reported 18 attempts to derail trains across the country. From June 2023 to date, there have been 24 such incidents. Authorities have discovered various objects placed on rail tracks, including LPG cylinders, bicycles, iron rods, and cement blocks, raising concerns of possible conspiracy.