Major rail accident averted in Lucknow

IGP, ATS, ASIM ARUN SAID ALTHOUGH THE INITIAL PROBE DID NOT SUGGEST ANY TERROR LINK, THIS POSSIBILITY CANNOT BE RULED OUT

LUCKNOW: The timely detection of at least 71 missing pandrol clips (fishplates) of a railway track between Badshah Nagar and Daliganj stations in Lucknow early on Sunday shortly before an express train was scheduled to cross averted a major tragedy.

Circle officer of government railway police (GRP), Lucknow, Amita Singh said two railway patrol men, Shiv Shankar and Sanjay, discovered that the clips were missing at around 4.25 am, minutes before Kaifiyat Express, train heading to Azamgarh from Delhi, was to cross the stretch.

“The timely detection of the missing pandrol clips by the alert employees averted a major incident. The Kaifiyat Express moves with good speed and its movement on the track would have led to a major accident,” Singh said.

Authorities have lodged an FIR at Mahanagar police station against unidentified persons for removing the pandrol clips, used in holding together railway tracks and concrete sleepers on which the track is laid.

The Uttar Pradesh police has roped in the state’s anti-terror squad for the investigation on suspicion of terror links.

Inspector general of police, ATS, Asim Arun said although the initial probe did not suggest any terror link, this possibility could not be ruled out.

As per North Eastern Railway, movement of trains was resumed at 5.30am after an hourlong repair work. Four trains were stopped on the outskirts of Lucknow railway station during this period.

Later in the day, general manager of North Eastern Railway Rajiv Agarwal visited the spot and gave cash reward to the two patrolmen.