A minor explosion shook a railway track section near Sirhind station in Fatehgarh Sahib district (Punjab) late Friday night, injuring the loco pilot of a passing freight train and causing some damage to the track and engine, police said on Saturday. The incident occurred at around 9:50 pm when the freight train was moving through Khanpur village, approximately 4–5 km from Sirhind station on the Amritsar–Delhi rail line—a route primarily used for freight services.
Officials with the Government Railway Police (GRP) and the Ropar Range police, including Deputy Inspector General Nanak Singh, visited the blast site. They described it as a minor blast with low intensity, adding that there was no major loss of life or property. The loco pilot suffered a minor cut on his cheek but was stable and out of danger, authorities said. The train engine sustained limited damage, and the affected section of track was repaired quickly, allowing regular train movement to resume early on Saturday.
Police have registered a case under Section 150 of the Railways Act—which covers maliciously wrecking or attempting to wreck a train—and said that investigation teams and specialised units are at the site collecting evidence. Residents of Khanpur village reported hearing a loud explosion that triggered panic in the area. Officials have not yet confirmed the exact cause or motive for the blast. While initial reports describe it as criminal sabotage by “miscreants,” authorities said it was premature to link it to any terror group or specific motive until forensic and technical findings are clear.
Source : https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/punjab/minor-blast-damages-railway-track-in-punjab-loco-pilot-injured/article70545764.ece