Listen To This Post

Mohali: A portion of a railway track used exclusively for freight movement was found damaged near Sirhind in Punjab’s Fatehgarh Sahib district on Friday night, prompting an investigation into whether an explosion caused the damage, police said.

The affected track is located near Khanpur village, around 4–5 km from Sirhind railway station, close to railway pole number 1208, with nearly a 600-metre stretch found damaged. Following the incident, the engine of a goods train derailed, leaving its driver injured.

Railway authorities immediately undertook repair work and restored train movement on the affected section. Meanwhile, the police have registered a case against unknown persons under Section 150 of the Railways Act, which deals with maliciously wrecking or attempting to wreck a train.

Addressing the media, Ropar Range DIG Nanak Singh said information suggesting an explosion was received late Friday night, following which multiple police teams were rushed to the spot. “The incident is believed to have occurred around 9.50 pm. The injured loco pilot has been admitted to the hospital and is undergoing treatment,” he said.

Forensic and technical teams have inspected the railway track and surrounding areas to collect evidence. However, the DIG cautioned against jumping to conclusions. “At this stage, it would be premature to term it a terrorist incident. The case is being investigated as a criminal act, and the exact nature of the incident will become clear only after the probe is completed,” he said.

Security has been tightened in the area, with both railway and police authorities maintaining heightened vigilance. Officials said further details regarding the cause of the damage and those responsible would be shared once the investigation yields concrete findings.