Anupgarh-Suratgarh Rail Line Shaken by Suspected Blast; Trains Cancelled
Two cement pillars damaged in a suspected blast on the Anupgarh-Suratgarh rail line. Police investigate while trains are cancelled.
A sense of alarm gripped the Sri Ganganagar district of Rajasthan on Tuesday after a suspected blast damaged critical infrastructure on the Anupgarh-Suratgarh railway line. The incident, which occurred near 50 GB village, has triggered an immediate security response and led to the cancellation of passenger services as authorities scramble to determine the cause of the damage.
Damage to Railway Infrastructure
According to police and railway officials, the impact of the suspected explosion was focused on the track supports. Two cement pillars that hold the railway tracks in place were severely damaged. The force of the incident was significant enough to expose the steel reinforcement bars (rebars) within the concrete pillars.
The North Western Railway (NWR) Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) confirmed that Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel and railway officials arrived at the scene promptly. Upon inspection, they discovered that two track sleepers—essential components that maintain the gauge of the rails—had been damaged.
Security Response and Investigation
Sri Ganganagar Superintendent of Police (SP) Harishankar visited the site to assess the situation. While the damage suggests an explosion, the SP cautioned against jumping to conclusions until technical experts provide a formal report.
"My team and I have already inspected the site, and railway officials are also present. Our forensic team and the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) are on their way. We will only be able to determine the exact cause once they arrive; it would be premature to conclude whether it was an explosion or something else," SP Harishankar stated.
RDX Link Ruled Out
Given the proximity to the border region, where 7.5 kg of RDX was recently recovered, there were immediate concerns regarding a potential link between the two events. However, the police have been quick to dismiss this theory. SP Harishankar explicitly stated that, based on current evidence, there is no connection between the suspected blast on the rail line and the previously seized RDX.
Impact on Rail Services
As a precautionary safety measure to protect passengers and allow the forensic teams to work undisturbed, the North Western Railway has suspended certain services. The following passenger trains have been cancelled:
- Train 59711/12
- Train 59715/16
The area remains under surveillance as the forensic team and the Bomb Disposal Squad conduct a thorough sweep of the site to establish whether the damage was caused by a deliberate act of sabotage or a technical failure.