Banaras-Mumbai Express loco pilot spots iron pipe on tracks, averts accident
A major train accident was averted in Uttar Pradesh after a loco pilot spotted an iron pipe on the tracks and applied emergency brakes. The Railway Protection Force has launched an investigation into the incident, which is being treated as a potential act of sabotage.
Why it matters
Railway safety is a critical infrastructure concern in India, and this incident highlights the ongoing risks of track tampering.
A major accident was averted after the loco pilot of the Banaras-Mumbai LTT Express applied emergency brakes after spotting an iron pipe on the tracks between Iradatganj and Link Station in Uttar Pradesh, officials said on Thursday (July 23, 2026).
The train, travelling from Varanasi to Mumbai, was brought to a halt around 9 p.m. on Tuesday (July 21, 2026) after the obstruction was noticed on the track. The loco pilot immediately alerted railway authorities.
North Central Railway (NCR) Chief Public Relations Officer Shivam Sharma said the pipe appeared to have been thrown onto the tracks. It was hollow and rusted, he said.
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