A minor blast near a railway track in Punjab’s Fatehgarh Sahib district late Friday night has put security agencies on alert, even as officials stressed that there was no major damage and no loss of life. The incident took place at around 9.50 pm when a freight train was passing near Khanpur village, about 4–5 kilometres from Sirhind railway station.
Minor Explosion On Railway Track In Punjab’s Fatehgarh Sahib
According to The Economic Times, Government Railway Officials revealed that a low-intensity blast damaged a small section of the railway track on a dedicated freight corridor. The sound of the explosion was loud enough to be heard across nearby areas, triggering panic among villagers, many of whom rushed out of their homes to see what had happened.
Unfortunately, the loco pilot of the freight train suffered a minor cut on his cheek. Officials said he was out of danger and did not require serious medical treatment. Importantly, there were no fatalities, and no other injuries were reported. Authorities were quick to clarify that the impact was limited. While the train engine did not suffer major damage, the railway track was only partially affected. Railway officials carried out repairs, and normal train services resumed after nearly 14 hours, Zee Business reported.
Senior police officers, including Ropar Range Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Nanak Singh, visited the spot soon after the incident. According to ANI via The Economic Times, the DIG said the blast was very minor in nature and confirmed that multiple police and forensic teams are investigating, and specialised agencies have also been roped in. Police are confident that the accused will be arrested soon. He added that the intensity of the blast was very low and that there was no major threat to public safety.
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Punjab Police Tighten Security
A case has been registered under Section 150 of the Railways Act, which deals with malicious attempts to damage or wreck a train. Security has been tightened in and around railway installations, and authorities are closely monitoring sensitive areas.
According to The Economic Times, the blast comes at a sensitive time, just days after Punjab Police busted terror modules and arrested five operatives of the banned outfit BKI, seizing arms and ammunition ahead of Republic Day. Because of this backdrop, officials are treating the incident seriously, even though the blast itself was minor.
Authorities say there is no cause for panic, but investigations are ongoing and updates are expected as more details emerge.
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva/Arvinder Flora