Rajdhani Express Hits Pillar In Gujarat, Cops Suspect Bid To Derail Train

The Mumbai-Delhi Rajdhani Express train hit a cement pillar, which some people allegedly placed on the railway track near Valsad in south Gujarat. No one was injured, the police said today.

The police suspect that the incident, which took place around 7.10 pm on Friday, was an attempt to derail the Delhi-bound train. They have filed a case.

“The Mumbai-Hazrat Nizamuddin August Kranti Rajdhani Express train hit the cement pillar placed on the railway track close to Atul station near Valsad. After being hit by the train, the pillar got pushed off the track. The incident did not affect the train as it moved on and no passenger was hurt. The loco pilot immediately informed Atul railway station personnel about it,” an official of Valsad rural police station said.

On being alerted, senior police and railway officials rushed to the spot.

“Some unknown people had placed the cement pillar on the track. The train hit the pillar, after which the train manager immediately informed the local station master,” Rajkumar Pandian, Range, IG of Surat, told reporters.

It appeared to be a case of attempt to derail the train, he said, adding that the police are conducting an investigation into the matter.

A first information report, or FIR, was filed against unidentified people at Valsad rural police station, and efforts are on to nab the culprit using technical surveillance, the Valsad rural police official said.