A major accident was narrowly avoided in Kanpur on Sunday morning when a train collided with an LPG gas cylinder placed on the tracks. The incident occurred near a railway crossing in Muderi village and was part of a larger plot to derail the Prayagraj-Bhiwani Kalindi Express.
The collision happened around 8:20 am as the Kalindi Express was traveling towards Bhiwani, Haryana. The loco pilot quickly spotted the cylinder on the tracks near Shivrajpur and acted swiftly by applying the emergency brakes. Despite the prompt response, the train struck the cylinder, which was flung clear of the tracks due to the impact.
Thanks to the quick actions of the loco pilot, no passengers were harmed, and the train stopped shortly after the collision. The train remained at the scene for about 20 minutes while the incident was reported to the Railway Protection Force (RPF).
Following the collision, the train made a stop at Bilhaur station for a preliminary investigation before resuming its journey. In addition to the damaged LPG cylinder, authorities recovered a bottle containing petrol, matchboxes, and other suspicious items, which appeared to be a makeshift petrol bomb.
Kanpur Commissioner of Police Harish Chandra confirmed that a forensic investigation has been launched. He noted that both railways and law enforcement agencies have heightened security measures on critical railway routes. The RPF, in collaboration with the UP Police Dog Squad, is conducting a thorough investigation and has deployed additional security forces along the Anwarganj-Kasganj railway route.
The quick response by the train crew and prompt action by the authorities helped avert a potentially catastrophic disaster. The investigation continues as security remains a top priority on major railway routes.