Sirhind, Jan 24: A major explosion damaged a significant portion of the Delhi-Amritsar main railway line near Sirhind on Friday night, leading to the derailment of a freight train engine. The incident occurred near Kanpur village at Railway Pole Number 1208 around 9:50 pm, just days ahead of the January 26 celebrations. While 600 meters of the track sustained damage, officials confirmed that no passenger trains were in the immediate vicinity at the time of the blast.
The driver of the goods train, identified as Anil Sharma, sustained injuries during the derailment and was moved to a nearby hospital. Authorities stated that his condition is currently stable and he is out of danger. Railway technical teams worked through the night to repair the section, successfully restoring traffic flow after the site was cleared and the tracks were deemed safe for transit.
Law enforcement agencies and forensic experts have cordoned off the area to gather evidence. While initial findings point toward the use of explosives to disrupt the rail network, official confirmation regarding the specific nature of the device is still awaited. Local residents noted that the sound of the blast was audible across the village, with some reporting a second loud noise around 1 am.
“We received information about the blast on the railway track at night, after which various teams were sent to the spot and an investigation was started,” DIG Ropar Range Nanak Singh said. He noted that all concerned agencies are currently conducting a thorough investigation into the matter.
The police have registered a formal case against unidentified individuals as security is stepped up across the region. Surveillance at Sirhind railway station and surrounding tracks has been intensified to prevent further incidents.
Regarding the nature of the event, the DIG said, “It would be premature to call the incident a terrorist attack. Initially, it is being treated as a criminal incident, but the situation will be clear only after the investigation is completed.”
