Kolkata, 4 August (H.S.) -An explosion on the railway track near Garbeta station in West Bengal’s Jangalmahal region has triggered security concerns, coming just hours after a similar incident in Odisha. The blast, which occurred late Sunday evening, narrowly missed the passing Rajdhani Express, averting a potentially catastrophic incident.
According to railway sources, the New Delhi-bound Rajdhani Express crossed the affected section of the track at 4:12 PM, just minutes before the explosion occurred. The train’s driver reportedly heard a loud blast when the train had reached the Shilabati Bridge, nearly three kilometers ahead. Without stopping, he alerted railway officials at the next station, after which the train was halted for approximately 30 minutes for precautionary checks.
The incident was kept under wraps initially, but railway authorities confirmed it publicly on Monday afternoon. Senior officials, along with a forensic team, reached the site and discovered explosive residues along the track, heightening fears of sabotage. While no injuries have been reported, the proximity of the blast to the Rajdhani Express’s passage has raised serious alarm.
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Possible Maoist Link Under Investigation
Though police have suggested that the blast might have been caused by accidental chemical spillage, they have not ruled out foul play. Security agencies are also probing a possible Maoist connection, given the region’s history and recent developments.
The Garbeta explosion came just a day after Maoist rebels allegedly detonated an IED on the Rangra-Karampada route in Odisha’s Chakradharpur Division, severely damaging the railway line. That incident killed a 37-year-old railway worker, Itwa Oraon, and injured another, Budhram Munda. The force of the blast had even shattered the concrete sleepers beneath the track.
The timing and similarity of the two incidents have raised serious concerns among intelligence and railway security officials. Investigations are underway, and railway authorities have ordered a comprehensive review of security protocols across the region.
Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh
