Railways Turns To NIA For Investigation Into Track Sabotage Incidents

The Indian Railways is collaborating with state governments, police chiefs, and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to track down individuals attempting to sabotage train operations and endanger passengers by placing objects on the tracks, Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Tuesday.

"The entire railway administration is on high alert and taking these incidents very seriously. We are in constant communication with state governments, DGPs, Home Secretaries, and the NIA. Strict action will be taken against anyone trying to cause accidents. This is our commitment, and the railway administration is working diligently," Vaishnaw told the media in Jaipur.

He added that the ministry is collaborating with all railway zones and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) to address the issue at its core. "We will take strict action against those involved in such illegal activities. The administration is committed to ensuring these incidents are not repeated and that the offenders are apprehended," he said.

However, Vaishnaw did not go into detail about the NIA's specific role in the investigations.

This development follows a series of alarming incidents where train drivers have spotted hazardous objects on the tracks, aimed at causing derailments and endangering passengers' lives.

On September 22, a goods train driver traveling from Kanpur to Prayagraj narrowly avoided disaster by applying emergency brakes after spotting a gas cylinder on the tracks. A similar incident occurred on September 15, when a damaged cylinder and other dangerous items were found just before Kalindi Express reached Kanpur.

On September 21, unidentified individuals tampered with a fishplate and key on a track in Uttar Pradesh. Fortunately, Keyman Subhash Kumar raised the alarm, and incoming trains were stopped in time. Additionally, three railway employees were arrested on Tuesday for allegedly conspiring to derail a train.

In another recent incident, nine iron rods were discovered on the tracks along the Bhatinda-Delhi route around 3 a.m. on Sunday.