An FIR has been registered against unknown individuals for suspected sabotage after the derailment of 20 coaches of the Sabarmati Express near Govindpuri station in Kanpur.
The incident, which occurred early Saturday morning, has prompted a multi-agency investigation, though no casualties or injuries were reported.
The derailment took place at approximately 2:27 am when the engine of the Sabarmati Express, travelling from Varanasi to Gujarat, struck a large object placed on the tracks between Govindpuri and Bhimsen stations, according to railway officials.
Despite the efforts of the loco pilot A.P. Bundela and his assistant to apply emergency brakes, the train could not avoid the collision. The impact caused 20 coaches to derail.
The Uttar Pradesh Police has registered the FIR under Section 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which pertains to acts endangering life or personal safety, and relevant sections of the Railways Act, 1989.
The complaint was filed by Mahendra Pratap Singh, a senior section engineer with the railways.
Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Vijendra Dwivedi revealed that a 0.93-meter piece of an old rail line was discovered between the up and down tracks. The rail piece, which showed signs of recent heating, is believed to have caused the derailment.
"The FIR was lodged on Saturday at the Panki Police Station," Dwivedi stated.
In response to the incident, Police Commissioner Akhil Kumar has established a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter. The SIT is headed by Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Rajesh Kumar Singh.
Forensic experts and the railway's technical team have secured the rail piece mentioned in the FIR, while the investigation now involves multiple agencies, including the Intelligence Bureau (IB), Railway Protection Force (RPF), and the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS).
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed the derailment in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, stating, "The engine of Sabarmati Express (Varanasi to Ahmedabad) hit an object on the track and derailed near Kanpur at 02:35 am. 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 for passengers for onward journey to Ahmedabad."
The FIR alleges that the piece of rail was deliberately placed on the tracks, suggesting foul play.
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