A potentially devastating train accident was narrowly averted on Sunday morning when a coupling failure on the Kisan Express resulted in the detachment of 13 coaches from the train near Seohara railway station in Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh. The incident, which occurred around 3:45 am, sent shockwaves through the train, causing panic among the passengers, particularly those who were candidates for the upcoming UP police constable recruitment exam.
The coupling connecting coach numbers S4 and S3 broke as the train passed through the Chakrajmal railway station, leaving the detached coaches, including the guard’s compartment, stranded on the tracks. The remaining eight coaches continued towards Dhanbad, their destination, with the engine. As the speed of the disconnected coaches slowed, the guard quickly alerted the train driver and the police.
Railway officials and police personnel arrived promptly at the scene. Recognizing the urgent need to ensure the safety of the exam candidates, arrangements were made to transport them to Bareilly. Superintendent of Police Dharam Singh Marchal reported that the Kisan Express (13308), traveling from Firozpur to Dhanbad, experienced the incident in the Seohara police station area.
According to railway officials, the coupling failure was attributed to a technical fault. A rescue engine was dispatched to bring the stranded 13 coaches from Raipur to Seohara railway station, as reported by the Hindustan Times.
The incident caused major disruptions to railway services for several hours. The Jananayak Express was halted at Habibwala, and the Punjab Mail train was stopped at Dhampur for nearly two hours, leaving passengers stranded and anxious about their travel plans. After a thorough inspection, both sections of the train were reconnected at Seohara station. The Kisan Express finally departed for Moradabad at 7:38 pm. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of ensuring the safety and reliability of rail infrastructure.
