Katra-Bound Train Coach Cracks Near Toilet Area After Leaving Ludhiana, Sparks Panic
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By Pranjal Gupta
Ludhiana, June 6: A sleeper coach of the Delhi–Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Special train developed a crack and partially separated near the toilet area shortly after departing from Ludhiana railway station on Saturday, causing panic among passengers.
According to railway officials, the S-2 coach suffered a structural failure soon after the train began moving. A section of the coach near the toilets caved in, causing parts of the toilet fittings, including seats, to fall onto the railway tracks. The sudden damage raised concerns among passengers, who feared a possible derailment.
Passengers onboard said they felt a strong and sudden jolt as the train started moving. Alarmed by the impact, several travellers quickly got off the coach and alerted railway staff. Despite the seriousness of the incident, no injuries were reported.
Railway officials and emergency response teams rushed to the scene and immediately evacuated passengers from the damaged coach. The affected S-2 coach was then detached from the train to ensure the safety of passengers and the smooth continuation of the journey.
Ludhiana Station Director Aditya said railway authorities promptly arranged a replacement coach and attached it to the train. As a result, the Delhi–Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Special resumed its journey towards Katra without any major delay.
The Indian Railways has ordered a detailed inquiry to determine the exact cause of the structural failure. Officials are examining the coach and reviewing maintenance records as part of the investigation.
Deputy Superintendent of Police, Government Railway Police, Tejpal Singh, said preliminary findings have ruled out any possibility of sabotage. Investigators currently believe that a technical defect may have caused the coach body to fail at the moment the train started moving.
Officials also noted that the outcome could have been far more serious if the structural failure had occurred while the train was travelling at high speed. The incident has raised fresh concerns about coach maintenance and passenger safety, prompting railway authorities to closely examine the circumstances behind the failure.
