A potential safety incident was reported near Sagfata railway station, between Nepanagar and Khandwa in Madhya Pradesh, where detonators were discovered on the track. The train passing through the area was carrying army personnel, raising concerns.
The incident occurred on September 18 but came to light on Sunday, September 22. Following this, police and national intelligence agencies have launched an investigation. Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) are involved, alongside several security agencies.
According to Dr. Swapnil Neela, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of Central Railway, the detonators found were regular equipment used by the railway for signaling purposes. However, they were placed in an unusual location, leading to further scrutiny into who placed them and why.
Ten Detonators Found
Reports indicate that 10 detonators were positioned approximately one to one-and-a-half feet apart between Sagfata and Dongargaon on the Delhi-Mumbai railway route. The train, which was heading from Khandwa to Thiruvananthapuram, was transporting army officers, staff, and weapons.
The Railway Ministry has taken this matter seriously, and army officials are also investigating. They are requesting custody of certain railway staff, including keymen and trackmen, for questioning. Jeewan Chaudhary, PRO for Central Railway’s Bhusawal division, stated that the investigation is ongoing, with a dog squad assisting in the search.
Train Halted for 30 Minutes
Upon receiving the alert about the detonators, the train was halted at Sagfata station for half an hour. The detonators are reportedly from 2014 and were originally designed for use within five years. Their testing was scheduled for the sixth year. These devices, produced by the railway itself, create loud sounds when triggered, alerting train drivers to obstructions or signal issues, particularly during fog or other poor visibility conditions.
Authorities are working to determine how and why the detonators were placed in this specific location.
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