Maharashtra: Major Train Accident Averted As Guard Spots Boulders On Tracks

Railway staff in Maharashtra's Pimpri-Chinchwad prevented a major accident on Friday when they found several large boulders deliberately placed on the tracks.

A vigilant security guard on a train heading towards Pune noticed the large boulders on the tracks and notified the station master at Chinchwad.

"Guard Sandip Bhalerao on a Lonavala-Pune suburban train spotted the boulders on the adjacent UP tracks and informed the station master of Chinchwad," a senior Railway official was quoted as saying.

The station master informed the loco pilot of train number 16352 (Ncoil - Mumbai CSMT Express). The train was quickly stopped near Chinchwad.

An investigation is being conducted by authorities to determine the reasons for this risky action.

Highlighting the incident, CPRO Central Railway Shivaji Manaspure stated that a patrolling team discovered several large boulders on the tracks at various points, spaced 10- meters apart. It appears that this act was done with malicious intent, possibly by individuals involved in illegal activities. The patrolling team promptly removed the rocks to prevent any potential harm.

Manaspure stated that a comprehensive search is underway in the surrounding areas to collect possible clues or evidence and determine the people accountable.

There was a recently averted major accident in Bhilwara, Rajasthan. Train operators on the Udaipur-Jaipur Vande Bhar Express noticed stones and iron rods on the railway track and stopped the train right away by using emergency brakes.

The Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of North Western Railway, Shashi Kiran, stated that the stones were seen on the Gangarar-Soniyana section on Monday at 10 AM. This area falls within the jurisdiction of SHO/Gangarar in Chittaurgarh district.