Vigilant railway staff avert disaster as boulders found on tracks in Maharashtra

The station master alerted the loco pilot (driver) of 16352 UP Nagarcoil-Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) Express coming on the tracks.

Published on: Oct 7, 2023, 08:55:41 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

A potentially catastrophic incident was narrowly avoided Friday when vigilant railway staff in Maharashtra's Pimpri-Chinchwad discovered several large boulders deliberately placed on the tracks. An alert guard on a Pune-bound suburban train running on the parallel tracks spotted the boulders and informed the Chinchwad station master.

The railway staff discovered boulders obstructing the tracks at five different locations, prompting immediate action to remove them. (PTI)

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

The station master passed on the information to the loco pilot of train number 16352 (Nagercoil - Mumbai CSMT Express), which was immediately stopped in time around Chinchwad, the official added.

Authorities are now investigating the incident to determine the motives behind this dangerous act.

Shedding more light on the incident, CPRO Central Railway Shivaji Manaspure said a team already patrolling the area spotted large boulders at five different locations on the tracks at a distance of 10-20 metres. He said the intention behind this act seems to be malicious, possibly perpetrated by some anti-social elements. The patrolling team acted swiftly and removed the boulders to avert any potential disaster, he added.

Manaspure said a thorough search of nearby areas is being conducted to gather any possible clues or evidence and identify the individuals responsible.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Central Railway

Follow India news real-time updates and the latest news covered on Hindustan Times, featuring today's critical updates on Sonam Wangchuk LIVE and more across India.