An attempt to derail the Kalindi Express by placing an LPG cylinder on the railway tracks was reported in the Shivrajpur area near Kanpur on Sunday morning, police said.
The train, en route from Prayagraj to Bhiwani, hit the cylinder but managed to come to a screeching halt, averting a potential disaster.
The train hit the cylinder, which was dislodged from the tracks upon impact.
Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Harish Chandra stated, “The loco pilot saw that the LPG cylinder was placed on the tracks and applied the emergency brakes.”
The train stopped shortly after hitting the cylinder, throwing it off the tracks. The loco pilot immediately alerted the guard and gateman about the incident.
Senior officials were quick to reach the site, launching an investigation around 8.20 am.
A forensic team, along with the Railway Protection Force (RPF), is probing the matter. The train was halted at the scene for about 20 minutes and again stopped at Bilhaur station for further investigation, according to the ACP.
Police recovered the damaged LPG cylinder along with a bottle of petrol and matchboxes from the location. “Efforts are being made to identify the culprits and they will be dealt with sternly,” Chandra added.
The authorities have yet to determine the motive behind the act, but the incident has raised concerns about railway safety in the region.
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